Dammit man, I'm a marshmellon, not a marshmallow!
Dammit man, I'm a marshmellon, not a marshmallow!
CIVILIAN LIFE:
Q1. Name: Ruth
Q2. How did you find out about Elite of the Fleet? charlietinpants posted about it in startrek and trekkies.
Q3. When did you first become interested in Star Trek?
When I was twelve. My dad let my sister and I watch Wrath of Khan for the first time, and I loved it! I eventually got to watch the rest of the movies, and then TOS, DS9, TNG, VOY, and some of ENT. There was a year where I really disliked Star Trek, partly because my sister was fascinated with TOS and bugged me about it all the time, and partly because of my first impressions of the new movie. I started liking it again in 2007/2008 and then I started watching DS9, and I was hooked. Permanently. And I saw the movie, and I loved it! So, yeah, my love for Star Trek was a roller coaster (worthy of Cedar Point) in the early years, but it's well on its way to the Gamma Quadrant now.
Q4. Why have you decided to join Elite of the Fleet?
I first saw the post about it, and I was "Wow.", then I read more information, and I was "Yes! Sign me up!" I've been a lone hardcore Trek fan for a while. (My family is a Trek family, but they're not as strong in their love for it as I am, i.e. not as obsessed.) So, it'll be nice to be around others like me.
(And yes, I'll admit it: having a rank and being assigned to a track and a starship is a dream of mine.)
Q5. Who is your favourite Star Trek character?
Dr. McCoy. Ever since I first saw him in Wrath of Khan (the scene where he and Spock bicker over the ethics of Genesis) I loved him. Then I saw more Trek, and I loved him even more, if that's possible. He's quite possibly Trek's greatest doctor, and he was always willing to be guinea pig on any new cure, just to make sure it was safe for others. I also really identify with him, having the urge to explore, but also really wanting both feet on ground, but still wanting to do more then just staying at home. I also have the heart of a worrier/mother hen, am very snarky, am argumentative, extremely defensive, and occasionally quite grumpy. I even didn't like Spock at first either! (Don't worry, he's grown on me.) Also, I find McCoy to be the lone voice of sanity in some episodes (Return to Tomorrow, for example), and let's face it: he's a badass. That scene with Khan in Space Seed was proof of that. And he just has a fantastic heart; even if he grumps at you, it's because he's worried, not he because he doesn't like you (even Spock).
Q6. And the least?
Chakotay. A very bland character. True, this was because he never had much to do, but whenever he did do something, he was pretty boring. (And he was mean to Tom Paris. I've never forgiven him for that. Or for stealing Seven from the Doctor, even though there was nothing really there. Sadly.) Also, his quick switch from devotion to the Maquis to devotion to Voyager and Janeway in the very first episode always bugged me. You'd think he would have more loyalty to his crew, then a Federation captain who had all but captured him and his crew. I understand the need to ally yourself to someone when your in the middle of nowhere, but did he have to be so quick to it? I understand it was mostly the writing, but still...for blandness, and out of character-ness, he's my least favorite character.
Q7. Which television (or film) series is your favourite?
I'd have to say the Original Series and Deep Space Nine. The Original Series for its longevity, its creativity, its characters, and its quirkiness; Deep Space Nine for its storylines, its characters, its design, oh, and they have a cloaked ship. And a wormhole.
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STARFLEET LIFE:
Q8. What do you hope to gain from your service in Starfleet?
More understanding of the franchise, new friends, understanding of how Starfleet works, getting to know everyone in the community, earning experience for similar communities, and just having fun.
Q9. Is there any occupation in Starfleet you feel you would be particularly unsuited for?
Probably Engineering. For one thing, there's an extraordinary amount of math, and I've never been very good with taking things apart and then putting them back together again. While I can fix a computer sometimes, anything else...nope.
Q10. The four current Academic Tracks at the Academy are Tactics, Operations, Exploratory Sciences and Medical Sciences. Describe how you could be an asset to each of these departments.
Tactical:
In Tactical, I think I would be an asset in the Command, more than I would be in Navigation (I tend to get lost at times) and Piloting (simply because I'm not sure I want someone to trust their life in my hands when it comes to driving something). But I am very good at leading (i.e. I'm told I'm bossy) and making decisions.
Operations:
In Operations, I think my strengths would be Diplomacy and Administration. Communications, possibly, although I'm not very good at foreign languages. I would be good at diplomacy because I usually can tell what people are feeling, and foreign countries fascinate me, and I'm good at striking up conversations. I think I would be good at Administration because I'm good at delegating tasks, as well as helping people know where to go, what to do once they get there, etc. I'm not good in engineering, for the reasons stated in Q9, and I'm a small person, so I probably wouldn't be good in Security (unless it was intelligence gathering, or something like that).
Exploratory Sciences:
To be completely honest, after Engineering, Exploratory Sciences is probably my weak point. However, I've found I quite enjoy Chemistry and Biology, and all the experiments and new surprises. I'm very good at organizing the information I receive from the experiments and research, and inferring a conclusion from that data.
Medical:
For Medical, I think I would be an asset because I'm a good judge of what people are feeling, in addition to feeling the strong urge to help someone whenever they're hurt or sick. Whenever there is an emergency (i.e. someone is hurt), I remain calm (unless it's me injured-in that case, it depends). I'm caring, and I want to make people smile during their medical ordeal. And I've been known to psychoanalyze people on occasion.
Q11. What are your top five strengths?
01. Openness: I'm very open to new ideas. I might not agree with them, but I like to hear them nonetheless. I like to keep an open mind.
02. Defensive: I'm highly defensive of others. My weapon of choice in that defense tends to by my mouth and my pen rather than my physical strength, but if I see something I feel the need to defend, I'll probably be thinking up defenses for a while.
03. Tenacity: Some call me bullheaded and stubborn, and while I agree with them, I like to call it tenacity. If there's something (or someone) I disagree with, I usually come back to the idea until it's been righted, or I've seen that what I disagreed with was, actually, the right thing to do.
04. Imaginative: I tend to dream a lot, and while some of things I dream of are impossible, my...shall we say, unusual way of looking at things tends to help me work through problems.
05. Intelligence: I'd like to think my brain is my greatest asset, next to my heart.
Q12. What are your top five weaknesses?
01. Temper: Although it's mostly reined in now, it escapes every now and then. It's like a goat: you put it in a cage, it chews its way out, and then it headbutts everyone in its way before its caught. (Thankfully, it's usually caught quickly.)
02. Timidity: While I'm normally extroverted, I can tend to be shy around people I've never met. I also have irrational fear of germs, and any place that might have germs. (No, I do not live in a plastic bubble. Yet.)
03. Stubborn: I'm very very stubborn at times. And while I can usually very easily adapt, if something really bugs me, no, unfortunately. I know that seems to conflict with my openness towards new ideas, but being stubborn is usually my first reaction; after I think about it a bit, I'm a lot more open minded.
04. Worry: I'm a first-class worrier. I worry about nearly everything. While I'm usually good at keeping it under control, there are some areas where it dominates (my germaphobia, for instance).
05. Obsessive: When I start liking something (or disliking something), I usually grow obsessive over it. Star Trek is one of the those areas. I should note that while I like things to be orderly, I'm no Monk (thankfully). I'm usually only obsessive over concepts or ideas.
Q13. What is your biggest fear?
Germs, and being ostracized by my family. While I know the latter one is foolish, I believe many different things than they do, and I really don't want to end up being quietly ignored by them someday. Germs, however, I find to be a quite logical fear. Brrr.
Q14. Do you consider yourself to be a leader, or a follower?
I consider myself a leader. While I'll follow, I usually like to be the one in charge. It's usually because I have different idea than the one leading, and I believe my idea is the best (that's where the bullheaded tenacity comes in). I'll follow if I agree and like the leader. I'll follow if I don't too, but I'll usually have a lot of a feedback for said leader.
Q15. What do you admire the most in your peers?
Friendliness, courage, imagination, tenacity. People who are friendly without being extremely perky (actually really, it depends. Online, perky=cool, Real Life=slightly annoying), are always the people I flock to, as are people with a good imagination. I admire the same peer who is not afraid to voice their opinion and defend it to the triumphant entry or better end. And the same peer who will rescue me from large dogs without being afraid---they're the best.
Q16. You are stranded on a Class M planet that has not been mapped by The Federation. You are only allowed to choose two of the following items to keep with you: a phaser, a tricorder or a communicator. Which two would you choose to have?
A tricorder, so I can map the planet, as well as get an understanding of who and what inhabit it. Also, the ship should be able to lock onto my tricorder signal and beam me up. I would also take a phaser, should I have need to defend myself and (if there are others) the members of the landing party. It could also be used to signal a ship, should there be a need to.
Q17. Please describe your understanding of the Federation’s Prime Directive.
The Prime Directive disallows Starfleet and Federation personnel from interfering with the development or the culture of a pre-warp civilization, even if said civilization is going to hell in a handbasket. The last part essentially comes from the theory of, "We made it through tough times, so they will too!" The Prime Directive is the Federation's most sacred commandment, although, if your name is Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, or Archer, they will forgive you if you break it (you will). However, do not go to the planet from "The Cage". (You get the death penalty for that! Unless you're a particular pointy-eared hobgoblin.) Notably, however, if the Vulcans had known about us before warp drive, they might have helped us prevent World War III...or we could have killed them out of fear. The Prime Directive is in place to prevent the worst case scenario. (If you break it, it's usually true that the best case scenario will happen; though this only applies to those whose names are the above. Captain Ransom, you're outta luck.)
Q18. The United Federation of Planets includes more than 150 member planets, and the galaxy has many more besides. Which planet do you most want to visit?
Bajor. (well, circa 2373 or so.) They have such a rich history, and such a fascinating religion. Also, their planet is in great need of aid, considering they just came through an occupation. The second planet would have to Cardassia, to help them rebuild and regain their culture, after the Dominion War. And I'd like to visit Risa, just to see what the big fuss is all about
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KOBAYASHI MARU:
The following questions describe situations you may commonly find yourself in as a member of Starfleet. You will be read the scenario, and then given two options to choose from. You may expand upon the reasons for your choice, but you must indicate one of the two that you feel best describes your likely response to the situation provided.
Q19. Service in the Fleet can be draining at the best of times, and on one particular day everything seems to have gone wrong. You’re exhausted, but your shift is finally over and it’s time to unwind. Your roommate is already on their bed when you get back to your quarters. Do you:
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a. Settle in for a lengthy chat with them - you’d really like to vent about your day and you’d quite like to hear about theirs too. It’s a bit of a ritual by this point anyway. Maybe you’ll even head out to the Rec Hall together to unwind over a card game with the others.
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I'd like to hear more about them, and they'd probably like a someone to talk after this long day. They probably want a friend too, as well as a friendly roommate, and a nice game of Fizzbin can never hurt after a long day.
Q20. You’ve intercepted what sounds like a pretty important transmission - you feel like the Captain needs to know. When you report, do you:
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b. Give them the facts, but your interpretation and the way it fits into context is more important. The Captain wasn’t there, after all - the way you explain it could make all the difference.
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Q21. There are many decisions to be made in Starfleet, and some are harder than others. Faced with a decision where things could go wrong in any number of ways, do you:
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b. Try to understand the perspectives of the people involved. They are the ones that will be influenced by the decision, and conflict is the least desirable outcome. Be certain to be tactful, even if some of the message is lost in the communication.
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Q22. The day-to-day life of Starfleet can be quite arduous at times, and quite exciting at others. Everyone has their own way of approaching everyday work, but would others see your approach as:
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b. Flexible and spontaneous. Others think you prefer to adapt to the world around you rather than organise it. You seem to be more comfortable staying open to information and experiences rather than making decisions immediately. You appear fairly casual, working in bursts and motivated by deadlines.
EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER HERE
Q23. You can earn 5 points for your future Track by promoting the community in your Journal. Please link the post here if you wish to do so: Here it is!
CIVILIAN LIFE:
Q1. Name: Ruth
Q2. How did you find out about Elite of the Fleet? charlietinpants posted about it in startrek and trekkies.
Q3. When did you first become interested in Star Trek?
When I was twelve. My dad let my sister and I watch Wrath of Khan for the first time, and I loved it! I eventually got to watch the rest of the movies, and then TOS, DS9, TNG, VOY, and some of ENT. There was a year where I really disliked Star Trek, partly because my sister was fascinated with TOS and bugged me about it all the time, and partly because of my first impressions of the new movie. I started liking it again in 2007/2008 and then I started watching DS9, and I was hooked. Permanently. And I saw the movie, and I loved it! So, yeah, my love for Star Trek was a roller coaster (worthy of Cedar Point) in the early years, but it's well on its way to the Gamma Quadrant now.
Q4. Why have you decided to join Elite of the Fleet?
I first saw the post about it, and I was "Wow.", then I read more information, and I was "Yes! Sign me up!" I've been a lone hardcore Trek fan for a while. (My family is a Trek family, but they're not as strong in their love for it as I am, i.e. not as obsessed.) So, it'll be nice to be around others like me.
(And yes, I'll admit it: having a rank and being assigned to a track and a starship is a dream of mine.)
Q5. Who is your favourite Star Trek character?
Dr. McCoy. Ever since I first saw him in Wrath of Khan (the scene where he and Spock bicker over the ethics of Genesis) I loved him. Then I saw more Trek, and I loved him even more, if that's possible. He's quite possibly Trek's greatest doctor, and he was always willing to be guinea pig on any new cure, just to make sure it was safe for others. I also really identify with him, having the urge to explore, but also really wanting both feet on ground, but still wanting to do more then just staying at home. I also have the heart of a worrier/mother hen, am very snarky, am argumentative, extremely defensive, and occasionally quite grumpy. I even didn't like Spock at first either! (Don't worry, he's grown on me.) Also, I find McCoy to be the lone voice of sanity in some episodes (Return to Tomorrow, for example), and let's face it: he's a badass. That scene with Khan in Space Seed was proof of that. And he just has a fantastic heart; even if he grumps at you, it's because he's worried, not he because he doesn't like you (even Spock).
Q6. And the least?
Chakotay. A very bland character. True, this was because he never had much to do, but whenever he did do something, he was pretty boring. (And he was mean to Tom Paris. I've never forgiven him for that. Or for stealing Seven from the Doctor, even though there was nothing really there. Sadly.) Also, his quick switch from devotion to the Maquis to devotion to Voyager and Janeway in the very first episode always bugged me. You'd think he would have more loyalty to his crew, then a Federation captain who had all but captured him and his crew. I understand the need to ally yourself to someone when your in the middle of nowhere, but did he have to be so quick to it? I understand it was mostly the writing, but still...for blandness, and out of character-ness, he's my least favorite character.
Q7. Which television (or film) series is your favourite?
I'd have to say the Original Series and Deep Space Nine. The Original Series for its longevity, its creativity, its characters, and its quirkiness; Deep Space Nine for its storylines, its characters, its design, oh, and they have a cloaked ship. And a wormhole.
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STARFLEET LIFE:
Q8. What do you hope to gain from your service in Starfleet?
More understanding of the franchise, new friends, understanding of how Starfleet works, getting to know everyone in the community, earning experience for similar communities, and just having fun.
Q9. Is there any occupation in Starfleet you feel you would be particularly unsuited for?
Probably Engineering. For one thing, there's an extraordinary amount of math, and I've never been very good with taking things apart and then putting them back together again. While I can fix a computer sometimes, anything else...nope.
Q10. The four current Academic Tracks at the Academy are Tactics, Operations, Exploratory Sciences and Medical Sciences. Describe how you could be an asset to each of these departments.
Tactical:
In Tactical, I think I would be an asset in the Command, more than I would be in Navigation (I tend to get lost at times) and Piloting (simply because I'm not sure I want someone to trust their life in my hands when it comes to driving something). But I am very good at leading (i.e. I'm told I'm bossy) and making decisions.
Operations:
In Operations, I think my strengths would be Diplomacy and Administration. Communications, possibly, although I'm not very good at foreign languages. I would be good at diplomacy because I usually can tell what people are feeling, and foreign countries fascinate me, and I'm good at striking up conversations. I think I would be good at Administration because I'm good at delegating tasks, as well as helping people know where to go, what to do once they get there, etc. I'm not good in engineering, for the reasons stated in Q9, and I'm a small person, so I probably wouldn't be good in Security (unless it was intelligence gathering, or something like that).
Exploratory Sciences:
To be completely honest, after Engineering, Exploratory Sciences is probably my weak point. However, I've found I quite enjoy Chemistry and Biology, and all the experiments and new surprises. I'm very good at organizing the information I receive from the experiments and research, and inferring a conclusion from that data.
Medical:
For Medical, I think I would be an asset because I'm a good judge of what people are feeling, in addition to feeling the strong urge to help someone whenever they're hurt or sick. Whenever there is an emergency (i.e. someone is hurt), I remain calm (unless it's me injured-in that case, it depends). I'm caring, and I want to make people smile during their medical ordeal. And I've been known to psychoanalyze people on occasion.
Q11. What are your top five strengths?
01. Openness: I'm very open to new ideas. I might not agree with them, but I like to hear them nonetheless. I like to keep an open mind.
02. Defensive: I'm highly defensive of others. My weapon of choice in that defense tends to by my mouth and my pen rather than my physical strength, but if I see something I feel the need to defend, I'll probably be thinking up defenses for a while.
03. Tenacity: Some call me bullheaded and stubborn, and while I agree with them, I like to call it tenacity. If there's something (or someone) I disagree with, I usually come back to the idea until it's been righted, or I've seen that what I disagreed with was, actually, the right thing to do.
04. Imaginative: I tend to dream a lot, and while some of things I dream of are impossible, my...shall we say, unusual way of looking at things tends to help me work through problems.
05. Intelligence: I'd like to think my brain is my greatest asset, next to my heart.
Q12. What are your top five weaknesses?
01. Temper: Although it's mostly reined in now, it escapes every now and then. It's like a goat: you put it in a cage, it chews its way out, and then it headbutts everyone in its way before its caught. (Thankfully, it's usually caught quickly.)
02. Timidity: While I'm normally extroverted, I can tend to be shy around people I've never met. I also have irrational fear of germs, and any place that might have germs. (No, I do not live in a plastic bubble. Yet.)
03. Stubborn: I'm very very stubborn at times. And while I can usually very easily adapt, if something really bugs me, no, unfortunately. I know that seems to conflict with my openness towards new ideas, but being stubborn is usually my first reaction; after I think about it a bit, I'm a lot more open minded.
04. Worry: I'm a first-class worrier. I worry about nearly everything. While I'm usually good at keeping it under control, there are some areas where it dominates (my germaphobia, for instance).
05. Obsessive: When I start liking something (or disliking something), I usually grow obsessive over it. Star Trek is one of the those areas. I should note that while I like things to be orderly, I'm no Monk (thankfully). I'm usually only obsessive over concepts or ideas.
Q13. What is your biggest fear?
Germs, and being ostracized by my family. While I know the latter one is foolish, I believe many different things than they do, and I really don't want to end up being quietly ignored by them someday. Germs, however, I find to be a quite logical fear. Brrr.
Q14. Do you consider yourself to be a leader, or a follower?
I consider myself a leader. While I'll follow, I usually like to be the one in charge. It's usually because I have different idea than the one leading, and I believe my idea is the best (that's where the bullheaded tenacity comes in). I'll follow if I agree and like the leader. I'll follow if I don't too, but I'll usually have a lot of a feedback for said leader.
Q15. What do you admire the most in your peers?
Friendliness, courage, imagination, tenacity. People who are friendly without being extremely perky (actually really, it depends. Online, perky=cool, Real Life=slightly annoying), are always the people I flock to, as are people with a good imagination. I admire the same peer who is not afraid to voice their opinion and defend it to the triumphant entry or better end. And the same peer who will rescue me from large dogs without being afraid---they're the best.
Q16. You are stranded on a Class M planet that has not been mapped by The Federation. You are only allowed to choose two of the following items to keep with you: a phaser, a tricorder or a communicator. Which two would you choose to have?
A tricorder, so I can map the planet, as well as get an understanding of who and what inhabit it. Also, the ship should be able to lock onto my tricorder signal and beam me up. I would also take a phaser, should I have need to defend myself and (if there are others) the members of the landing party. It could also be used to signal a ship, should there be a need to.
Q17. Please describe your understanding of the Federation’s Prime Directive.
The Prime Directive disallows Starfleet and Federation personnel from interfering with the development or the culture of a pre-warp civilization, even if said civilization is going to hell in a handbasket. The last part essentially comes from the theory of, "We made it through tough times, so they will too!" The Prime Directive is the Federation's most sacred commandment, although, if your name is Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, or Archer, they will forgive you if you break it (you will). However, do not go to the planet from "The Cage". (You get the death penalty for that! Unless you're a particular pointy-eared hobgoblin.) Notably, however, if the Vulcans had known about us before warp drive, they might have helped us prevent World War III...or we could have killed them out of fear. The Prime Directive is in place to prevent the worst case scenario. (If you break it, it's usually true that the best case scenario will happen; though this only applies to those whose names are the above. Captain Ransom, you're outta luck.)
Q18. The United Federation of Planets includes more than 150 member planets, and the galaxy has many more besides. Which planet do you most want to visit?
Bajor. (well, circa 2373 or so.) They have such a rich history, and such a fascinating religion. Also, their planet is in great need of aid, considering they just came through an occupation. The second planet would have to Cardassia, to help them rebuild and regain their culture, after the Dominion War. And I'd like to visit Risa, just to see what the big fuss is all about
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KOBAYASHI MARU:
The following questions describe situations you may commonly find yourself in as a member of Starfleet. You will be read the scenario, and then given two options to choose from. You may expand upon the reasons for your choice, but you must indicate one of the two that you feel best describes your likely response to the situation provided.
Q19. Service in the Fleet can be draining at the best of times, and on one particular day everything seems to have gone wrong. You’re exhausted, but your shift is finally over and it’s time to unwind. Your roommate is already on their bed when you get back to your quarters. Do you:
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a. Settle in for a lengthy chat with them - you’d really like to vent about your day and you’d quite like to hear about theirs too. It’s a bit of a ritual by this point anyway. Maybe you’ll even head out to the Rec Hall together to unwind over a card game with the others.
EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER HERE
I'd like to hear more about them, and they'd probably like a someone to talk after this long day. They probably want a friend too, as well as a friendly roommate, and a nice game of Fizzbin can never hurt after a long day.
Q20. You’ve intercepted what sounds like a pretty important transmission - you feel like the Captain needs to know. When you report, do you:
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b. Give them the facts, but your interpretation and the way it fits into context is more important. The Captain wasn’t there, after all - the way you explain it could make all the difference.
EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER HERE
Q21. There are many decisions to be made in Starfleet, and some are harder than others. Faced with a decision where things could go wrong in any number of ways, do you:
DELETE THE ANSWER THAT APPLIES LEAST TO YOU
b. Try to understand the perspectives of the people involved. They are the ones that will be influenced by the decision, and conflict is the least desirable outcome. Be certain to be tactful, even if some of the message is lost in the communication.
EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER HERE
Q22. The day-to-day life of Starfleet can be quite arduous at times, and quite exciting at others. Everyone has their own way of approaching everyday work, but would others see your approach as:
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b. Flexible and spontaneous. Others think you prefer to adapt to the world around you rather than organise it. You seem to be more comfortable staying open to information and experiences rather than making decisions immediately. You appear fairly casual, working in bursts and motivated by deadlines.
EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER HERE
Q23. You can earn 5 points for your future Track by promoting the community in your Journal. Please link the post here if you wish to do so: Here it is!