___ " Semper Fi! "___

The Marines Have landed!
by General Richard 'MacArthur' Merk

Listen! Do you hear it? It's the martial strains of 'Halls of Montezuma' resounding throughout the Briar Patch Sector, getting ever louder and louder. The Starfleet Marines have arrived!

With war again threatening in the Briar Patch Sector, the addition of SFMC pages to the main Deep Range Fleet web site is timely, so all you jar-heads out there, explore the new pages fully! Information can be found on the Marine Corps organization, uniforms, small arms and equipment, and a wide assortment of vehicles, both ground and aerial.

As always when something new is added to the DRF web site, it's in an evolving state, so if any of you military aficionados out there see something that should be corrected, added, deleted, enhanced, reworked or revamped, let me know!

Try A Carrot Instead Of a Stick . . .
by Richard 'Abercrombie & Fitch Model' Merk

If fist-flying, head-bashing, 'sir yes sir' action isn't quite your speed; if you prefer to use a carrot instead of a big stick; then the new Deep Range Fleet Diplomatic Corps might be just the ticket!

The new Diplomatic Corps pages on the main DRF web site detail Diplomatic dress and grades, so anyone interested should check them out. And as with the new Marine Corps information, anything you see is subject to improvement, so let me know if you want something added!

Spaced Out, Man
by Cheech Merk and Rich Chong

The star maps on the main DRF web site's database section have been given face-lifts. The galaxy map now shows the major powers of all 4 quadrants, and the Federation and Briar Patch Sector maps have been updated as well.

I only added standard Trek alien empires and DRF empires that I know about and could remember, but I'm sure there are more (from the Virgo and Leviathan, for example). If any ship captains (and former ship captains) have more alien empires to add to any of the maps, let me know.

Ship Reports
by Richard 'Where Has Everyone Gone?' Merk

Well, it's certainly been another slow month here in the ol' DRF. It's been WEEKS since I saw a post come through on any of the ships! Hopefully after the holidays things will pick up again a little.

Starbase 901
by Krystina 'Inspiration for the movie Nell' Stressman

SB901 has been on hiatus as I have had computer problems and personal problems a plenty! But now as things settle down I am hoping to get a batch of posts out within this next week or so. So if there is anything anyone has written, make sure you send it to me. Please use hammerheadpilot@hotmail.com to send me posts. That way nothing will bounce.

As for SB901 itself, we have several things going on as usual! Life on a station is never boring. Too much to do! We will continue to see the aftermath of the love virus and see what's become of certain individuals after their encounters and experiences. We will also get more hints for the coming war . . . There will be a reunion between old friends and the struggles of life.

The next batch of posts after that will concern the war! So the war with the Mullurans is fast approaching. Hopefully the month of January will be the most exciting yet!

USS Leviathan
by Ian 'Inspiration for the movie Forrest Gump' Barker

Greetings from the USS Leviathan-B. Season Nine has just started and there are a few new crew members coming onboard. Our next mission has already been assigned to the crew, we're heading for Starbase 901 to enter into negaotiations with a new alien race looking for support in their war. To facilitate this, we now have onboard a full Federation Ambassador and a diplomatic officer. Amongst the other new crew are a new XO, an Assisant Chief of Security and a new Command Marine to replace Lt. Colonel Phanan.

Bringing the Leviathan and Starbase 901 together has been a long-term goal for both myself and Krys, but at the moment the two timelines aren't syncronised. However I have an idea which will allow time for SB 901 to catch up and there is a possibility that those on the SB 901 will be able to post to the Leviathan season. (I'm just awaiting a response from Krys to the idea.) As well as this new mission, several characters will have their own battles to wage.

I'm also thinking about experimenting with the way posts are created, but I've not worked out all the details. I'll inform the Leviathan crew went I have. If I can make this idea work, I hope that we'll actually give everyone more freedom to post and make the seasons much faster. If the idea does eventually flop, then the next season would revert back to the old ways.

Anyway happy 2004 and let's keep trekking!

USS Eagle
by Patricia 'The Reason They Invented Erasers' Foss

This is Captain Harrington, and the crew of the Eagle--we are well on our first cruise together and the Galaxy is on fire before us and we are now on the clock for finding a solution to stop the fires and save space station Regula-1. We have said goodbye to several old crew members this last year, have several new members, and I would like to invite all old members to join in and play in the upcoming year.

USS Copernicus
by Rich 'Filling in for Bernd Grosskurth' Merk

This last month, the Copernicus suffered a devastating hacker attack, wiping out the entire crew roster. As some of you may know, the Copernicus relies on the automated SSF scripts for roster upkeep and log posting, which means that without the roster, no one can post. No word on if and when the roster might be restored, but we'll keep everyone posted. As things look now, the roster may have to be reconstructed from scratch.

Banshee Squadron
by Richard 'It Wasn't Me It Was the Chair!' Merk

It's a few weeks after Kim Tycho's wedding to Garek Loran and the Banshees are still on forced vacation on Starbase 901 pending the reevaluation by Starfleet HQ of the entire Banshee Program. Tired of lazing about listlessly, they go exploring and discover their starfighters mothballed in an unused hangar. With the onset of the Second Mulluran War, they petition Captain Mallory to reactivate the squadron. Meanwhile, with the departure of Kim Tycho, Alex Dalton struggles to adjust to her new role as squadron mechanic.

Serenity
by Richard 'Disgraced Mall Santa' Merk

The old Serenity web site has been dusted off and given a fresh coat of paint and is open for business once more! We've got at least a half-dozen people signed up to play, and the first few posts have already been sent out. The characters have been introduced, as well as a villain or two.

Contributions

If you want to write something to be included in the next issue of the Inimitably Superfluous Deep Range Fleet Newsletter, please do so! I'm not picky—it can be about anything in the universe! Got any good advice? Bad advice? Rants or raves? Jokes? News updates? Amusing anecdotes? Great! — we'll take it all! Just email it to me at richardmerk@msn.com

HAILING FREQUENCIES CLOSED