I'm a huge B5 fan. Up to the point that I could tell you almost everything about every episode there is as well as the movies. I rarely meet anyone else that watches it let alone enjoys it as much as I do. Tho seams to be a lot of Sci-Fi lovers here. :P Maybe I will get lucky and find someone else that likes it. Hehe

C&C
Ken

As of late, there has been some discussion about our PG-13 and underage policies. I'd like to take a few minutes of your time to clarify our position and reasoning.

First and foremost, you need to remember that Stonewall Fleet is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally fleet. We include people of all sexual orientations, genders, nationalities and religions. We are truly a diverse group. As such, we need to keep in mind these varying backgrounds when dealing with one another. What you may perceive to be benign, may be offensive to someone from a different background than yours. While we can't assure that everyone is happy all the time, we can strive to make an environment that is comfortable for all of our membership and adapts to those currently participating.

Although a good portion of our membership is single gay men, we do have a very diverse community; including those in long-term committed relationships, lesbians, straight allies, and bisexuals who are either members or allies from other fleets. While in one of these groups it may be appropriate to discuss adult or sexual topics, it may make another group uncomfortable. For example, if a group of gay men wish to discuss their sexual habits it may create an uncomfortable gaming experience for others of a different group due to the nature of the conversation. As well, such adult discussion in-game in a public chat channel would breach Cryptic's Code of Conduct. It states you may not transmit, post, or offer any content, information, images, or language which is vulgar, obscene or sexually explicit. This Cryptic policy is designed help players have an enjoyable gaming experience and Stonewall Fleet has adopted this policy for application on our own site, IRC chat, etc. so that our members gaming enjoyment is consistent.

Even if they above reasons were not true, such discussion in an open and mixed forum such as this is simply inappropriate. The Internet provides many people a sense of anonymity that allows them to behave in a way that would not in real life. While in some internet areas such conduct is alright, in a community like Stonewall Fleet where we try to foster long lasting friendships, such discussion could be damaging. Many people have used the fact that we allow underage members into the fleet as our reasoning for our PG-13 policy, but that isn't true. To be honest, we've had very few underage members join.

Stonewall Fleet's mandate was to create a safe place for users to play Star Trek Online without being exposed to the homophobia that is common in the gaming community and which many of us have experienced in other MMO guilds. The people who most often need such protection are glbt youth. We find it counter intuitive to have such a safe space, but deny it to those who need it most. By allowing glbt youth in, we provide them an area where they can grow, not only as gamers, but as individuals.

I hope this answers all of your questions and you can better understand our reasoning. As always, feel free to ask me if you have any more questions.

1.3.4.5

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"Equip yourselves according to standard anti-Borg protocol! Move it!" barked Shrel to a line of security officers that were hustling into the Transporter Bay and grabbing equipment that had been stockpiled in the room. The Bajoran was already outfitted, including an antiproton rifle that he had slung over his shoulder. Talona, who was the only non-security officer equipped with a similar weapon, noticed that he looked much more energetic.

He lives for the fight, I guess, she thought as she walked next to the transporter pad, positioning herself near a modular console that had been set up there.

War'en, who was standing next to the transporter attendant, looked at Talona with concern. "Talona, I'm still not entirely on board with this idea. Frankly, I have a number of engineers who rate higher in a combat situation than you, especially given... last time."

Talona glanced at her tricorder reflexively, then looked at her console so that she didn't have to look War'en in the eye. "Yes, but how many of them can reliably hack in a combat situation?"

War'en frowned, but they both knew she was right. However, something about this didn't sit well with him. Given Talona's reaction the last time they had encountered these Borg, he would have expected her to refrain from a ground fight with them. To his surprise though, she had actually requested to go when she had proposed this attack plan. It was a good plan that had the best chance of success, though still slim. As much as War'en disliked the idea, there was no viable alternative.

When the security team, which included Shrel, was assembled on the transporter pad, War'en addressed them.

"On my mark, you will beam down to the planet and engage hostiles. Protect Lieutenant Roberts while she does her part. Once she's done, we will be sending down reinforcements via transporter," he said, motioning to the squads standing around him, most of which were security but included some science and engineering support. "As much as I hate to say this, your priorities are Captain Oren-De and Lieutenant Matoya as it is imperative they are not assimilated by the Collective. Everyone else... is secondary. Understood?"

The group responded with a loud "aye, sir!" War'en nodded then looked at Talona. "Begin, Lieutenant." Talona nodded and began entering commands into the console next to her.

Meanwhile, in the chamber below the surface of Zarath III, Albina was watching her captive Enhasan, who had stopped moving a few minutes ago and gone completely slack. Maggie, who was still retrained on the slab next to him, was practically screaming at him to wake up. His skin had become rather pale and even mottled in some areas, whereas many of the veins in his face where now visible with a sickly gray color. Red, who couldn't see any of this, could still tell from Maggie's reaction what was happening. His medical knowledge of the assimilation process more than made up for the rest. However, it also made him realize how futile trying to awaken Oren-De would be, so instead he tried to chart out in his head, what would need to be done to reverse the process. That, of course, assumed they'd be rescued in time.

Red, it seemed, it wasn't the only one in the room that had such knowledge. Dr. Shion, who stood about ten paces away from Albina, watched Oren-De with a Vulcan stoicism that masked her abandonment of their logic. "Interesting. He is being assimilated at a rate 23% faster than the average humanoid."

"Truly, his kind have been made to serve the Nephilim," said Margulis from his position next to her. Albina, for her part, said nothing and continued to watch Oren-De's progress with a satisfied smile. The smile only increased when a Borg implant suddenly shot through the skin over Oren-De's left forehead, sending a pale liquid that had stopped being blood some time ago splattering on the side of his face. The implant began to slowly expand outward over that side of Oren-De's upper face, including his eye. The sight brought raptured smiles to the faces of the Gnostics.

An alarm suddenly sounded throughout the chamber. Margulis raced to a nearby console and read it over.

"The Pandora has lowered its shields! They may be beaming down an away team."

Albina smiled but didn't turn from Oren-De. "They are too late. Even if they succeed in reaching us, they will be unable to reclaim their crew."



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