BTW everyone, please ignore any trolls in the thread! Replying to them only makes it worse!

I generally log into STO once in the morning to do my daily stuff and then once in the evening to check on Doff assignments. I've started to notice something odd. Every morning when I first log in, I'm able to refine my daily 8k dilithium, but when I log in later in the evening I can refine another 8k!

At first, I thought I was just seeing stuff and forgetting to refine in the morning so I started to play close attention. I was able to do it for almost a week straight. My dilithium reserves have gone up considerably in that amount of time.

Has anyone else noticed this happening? My only idea is that Cryptic is trying to increase the amount of raw Dilithium in STO and this is their silent means of doing it. Thoughts?

Red Alert!

The ship shuddered and rocked slightly as the first barrage of torpedoes met the shielding and the hull.

"Shields down to 20% Captain!" I shouted across the bridge. "I will compensate with Auxiliary power." I quickly rerouted power to the shields using the Aux connector. Koruk gave the order to fire at will as the first officer targeted the weapon arrays and engines of the nearest Tholian ship. Success. It was weaponless and set adrift in space. The XO targeted the next ship and sent a barrage of quantum torpedoes into its facing hull and with a focused phaser beam at the same location the ship exploded. Koruk shouted to the comm officer, "Hail them!"

"No response, sir. Their communications arrays could be damaged."

"Open a channel" Koruk demanded. The ship shuddered again. "What the hell was that?" he asked looking at me. I quickly scanned the space around us and tapping an interface put the attacker on-screen. "Borg" stated the captain. "Bring us about and slice that ship in half!" he demanded as the T'Rokk began to turn. Tactical prepped a quantum spread and immediately fired the red cutting beam into the hull of the Borg cube focusing it on the nearest bank of shield generators. Their shields started to adapt but the generators in that section exploded leaving the hull facing open to space. "Fire!" stated Koruk and the first obeyed. Eight quantum torpedoes fired at the exposed section of hull ripping far into it's guts. A series of internal explosions started like a chain reaction. "Helm get us out of here, warp 6, engage." Said the Captain quietly. We had escaped. The Borg cube was destroyed and the Tholians we stranded for the moment. "Set Course for New Romulous." Commanded the Captain.

I had been busy at my console working my magic rerouting power to this, that and the other, mostly the other and hadn't noticed that Koruk was now observing me closely. I looked up and caught his gaze. I smiled and said quietly, "Permission to go to Engineering, I think I am needed there."

"Granted" said Koruk, followed by. "Belay that. Please join me in my ready room."

I logged off the console and walked towards the Captains ready room he joined me at door...

The last six months had passed fairly quickly. During that time Koruk and I had become close. Perhaps a little too close on occasion. I was sad that our time together was coming to an end, at least our time on the same ship. As it was we had several Borg missions coming up not to mention the Tholian threats in several sectors, we would be working together for a long period of time.

Koruk went to the replicator and ordered us our usual beverages, coffee with milk and a hot tea. We sat on the couch and I looked out in space. It's hard to believe that I have been in space for as many years as I have and right now at this moment I feel all over again like I was fresh out of Star Fleet Academy. I looked over at Koruk who was fishing for something in his pocket, "I hope the new ship modifications are well received by your CE when he gets back. I have taken the time to make notations on all the schematics and included personal notes in the ships logs for him." I said with a half smile. "I know he will like the changes to the shielding and hull plating once he gets the hang of the modulators."

"He will be fine, I assure you." he stated handing me a small pewter box.

I knew what was in the box. I had never seen a box as eloquent as this though. It was beautifully crafted and had intricately crafted Vulcan symbols all over it. I opened it to reveal my VA Pips. "I would not accept these or transfer back to my ship and my grade if you asked me to stay aboard." I choked out. "I will give my new ship to your CE if that is to your liking.

"I think we both know that can't happen" Koruk stated. "You need to get back to your command and I need to set my mind on our new tasks and my crew. It has been an amazing six months but it's time for it to end. We will still be working together on our upcoming mission assignments and can meet up on either ship for the duration of our 24 month assignment."

I looked into his eyes and noted the same sadness I was feeling. I didn't want to leave but we both knew we would never be happy together if one of us gave up our commands. I grabbed his hand and held it in my own. "So what do you know about my new ship that you aren't telling me?" I asked.

"I don't really know anything" he stated. "But I can tell you my CE is in love with your ship...ooops...I wasn't supposed to tell you that."

I laughed, "Your secret communiques with him have not gone un-noticed. I may not be able to see the content of those messages but I can read the encrypted headers, as well as who the sender and recipients are. You forget, I know more about your ship and it's systems than you do now. But fine! keep your secrets, I know who I will blame if there are problems." and with that statement New Romulus came into view.

:(

Great article, it was so very well put. To echo so many others already, thank you, congratulations and keep doing what you are doing :)

Its great to be a part of such an amazing community.

Truly a great read! I'm REALLY new to Stonewall Gaming, but it still filled me with pride in what we do. My eyes even watered a little.

Thank you for all you've done for the Gaymer community.

Oh i did not notice i am too old aswell

Quote by Jacien

Wow Nick! So this is what you meant when you said you couldn't wait for Friday. And this explains Brandon's #spoilers hashtag. What a wonderful opportunity, I couldn't be prouder of you and Stonewall. I saw that the comments were disabled though but that's understandable. This will be our best Pride yet!

According to Brandon, comments have been disabled for a couple weeks. Just click on the Discuss this in the forums.

Wow Nick! So this is what you meant when you said you couldn't wait for Friday. And this explains Brandon's #spoilers hashtag. What a wonderful opportunity, I couldn't be prouder of you and Stonewall. I saw that the comments were disabled though but that's understandable. This will be our best Pride yet!

Thanks everyone! I was so excited when Brandon offered me a guest blog!! I've known about it for a month and it's been killing me to keep it secret! Thanks to Halish for the wonderful images and DoctorDisaster for proof reading! Hopefully, this will be our biggest pride yet!

Quote by Gravity

No place with you in it could be mostly heterosexual sej :P

Sir, I take that as a compliment of the highest order.

Said with such excellence, Nick -- nice work & well done!!! I raise my glass of synthale/Romulan Ale/Blood Wine to you! Pride is one of our greatest, if not our best, events that we host in STO and I for one am definitely looking forward to it :)

An awesome read, Nick! Congratulations!

Congratulations Nick, on the terrific guest blog!
Very well written and awesome timing, just before Pride! :D

EXCELLENT article, NicholasJohn16! And many thanks to Brandon, for promoting it!

Guest Blog: Celebrating Diversity in Star Trek

I'm usually not a fan of cartoony MMOs, but this actually looks like it'd be quite fun... The trailer was hilarious and not what I was expecting ;) I only wish there was room in my life for another MMO!

This is THE game for me, I am going to drop everything when this comes out and take a month off to just fill my world with Nexus and its characters... so far I am likely to be a Male Aurin Spellslinger (depending on the unannounced Exile race and other 2 classes).

I have been trying to drum up fleet excitement on vent for this game for months now haha!

Bah. Stupid age range rules me out. Could have done with a holiday.

Quote by SaintPlazma

Something about this dosen't seem right. The BBC is saying the affiliated ministries wont be shutting down. They are shattered not defeated yet anyway.

Even if we take our victories in small pieces, we're still taking our victories. The outcome is not in question, friend:)