[Story by Shawn Alpay, Character Art by Thomas Marrone]
PROLOGUE
The ship rocked violently under the force of the looming Klingon battle cruiser. On the bridge, lights were low, and morale was lower. The officer in command picked himself up off from the ground and nursed a freshly-twisted shoulder as the chief medical officer quickly came to his side. “Damage report!”
Starting today… an all new fan fiction series starring the crew of the USS Loma Prieta, boldly going where no short stories have gone before.
Tuesday, August 27th, marks the premiere of Episode 1: “Shifts”, written by Ensign Shawn Alpay. The story begins with a prologue to be followed by a new act every Tuesday and original character art by Lt(jg) Thomas Marrone.
When the USS Loma Prieta is plagued by a mysterious computer glitch that threatens them and all of Starfleet, will the crew turn against one another? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and watch this Tumblr every Tuesday to find out!
[ABOVE: The Century 20 Daly City away team strikes a flawless beam-in pose]
Captain’s Log, Stardate 2013.0425. The crew has once again beamed down to the movie theaters at the Century 9 space station in San Francisco for a remastered Next Generation double feature. This time, the event was featuring parts 1 and 2 of the infamous Best of Both Worlds cliff hanger.
As I prepared to beam down with my away team, the USS Loma Prieta received an emergency distress signal that an identical event was occurring at the Century 20 space station in Daly City. Not being able to be two places at once, First Officer Jon Sung prepared Runabout Egon for departure with his own away team.
[ABOVE: USS Loma Prieta crew rendezvous at Century 9 San Francisco with members of the USS Golden Gate and USS Gygax]
With Century 20 in good hands, I proceeded with my away team to Century 9, where the USS Loma Prieta crew rendezvoused with an away team from the USS Golden Gate and even an officer from the USS Gygax.
[ABOVE: LT Jesse MacKinnon resists assimilation by the Borg]
The remastered episodes looked phenomenal and the mission went off without a hitch, at least until LT Jesse MacKinnon encountered a lone Borg drone in the theater’s lobby. Jesse hasn’t quite been the same since. Recommended he be kept under observation by the Ship’s counselor for the foreseeable future.
Perkins, out.
=/= CAPT Zach Perkins
Commanding Officer
USS Loma Prieta
Century 9 (San Francisco) Away Team Crew Manifest:
CAPT Zach Perkins
CAPT Erik Roberts
LT Jesse MacKinnon
LT Amy Sloan
LT Samantha Dolgoff
LTJG Harley Cooper
EN Shawn Alpay
EN Cindy Bee
EN Andy Smith
EN Chef Spencer Scott
EN Andrew Rogge
CR Michaela Maloney
Century 20 (Daly City) Away Team Crew Manifest:
CMDR Jon Sung
LCDR Tom Hesser
EN Melissa Crystal
CR Kristen Adam
[ABOVE: Ensign Andy Smith cuts a newly printed combadge from his replicator, after successfully printing a science department themed iPhone case]
The crew assembled to anticipate the momentous occasion (in 50 years time) of First Contact. In command was First Officer Jon Sung, Captain Perkins having been called away on an important mission to the Coachella System. The crew was pleased to welcome new recruit, Ensign Melissa Crystal.
Headquarters being temporarily unavailable, the crew was hosted by Ensign Smith… who has a frakking REPLICATOR. During the course of the evening, the replicator produced two badges and an iPhone case. It was determined that the more ambitious project of creating Geordi’s visor should be postponed due to inherent structural anomalies.
[ABOVE: USS Loma Prieta crew members celebrate their First Contact Day fiesta with a game of Artemis: The Starship Bridge Simulator]
After the traditional absorption of picklebacks, the crew donned their sombreros for several rounds of Artemis. Concerns were expressed about the extreme probability of recreating the Kobayashi Maru. Said concerns having proved more or less valid, the crew switched to playing Spaceteam. Gameplay was found to be faster, louder, and more hilarious than Artemis. Excellent results were achieved by shouting absurdities and waggling devices. Ultimately all perished horribly, and the meeting adjourned.
Replicators gonna replicate,
=/= EN Kelly Jensen
Scientific Dilettante
USS Loma Prieta
February 2013 Artemis Simulations: Tricorder Visual Scan Records