Welcome to the USS Athena!
"Nunquam Non Paratus"
In ancient Greek mythology Athena was the Olympian goddess of wisdom and good counsel, war, the defence of towns, heroic endeavour, weaving, pottery and various other crafts.
On the USS Athena, all of these things are to be expected in the stories we want to tell. (Including even the part about weaving and pottery, if you’re so inclined!)
The USS Athena is a multi award-winning member of Obsidian Fleet.
To find out more about us, why not join our Discord server?
CURRENT MISSION: PANDORA'S BOX
A CRASHED DOOMSDAY MACHINE - WHAT SECRETS DOES IT HOLD?
Starfleet has discovered a crashed Planet Killer on a remote moon just outside Federation space. With foreign powers circling like proverbial vultures, Command has activated the Pandora Protocols and deployed Paladin Squadron under Commodore Kane to secure the site, and investigate the devastating weapon's secrets...
The USS Athena is run under a 15+ rating. Limited content is permitted. Please consult a member of the command team if you are unsure.
Latest News Items
» MISSION END & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Posted on Tue Oct 31st, 2023 @ 7:55pm by Commodore Jacob Kane in General News
Hello all, this is your Commodore speaking...
Adam was quite insistent I do one of these traditional mission-ending news items, since they give him a pleasant little chuckle and generally brighten his day. So please do thank him for this.
As we draw to a close Season Two: Episode Two "Wrath of the People", we look back fondly on yet another misadventure featuring our daring crew of troublemakers. It was a close run thing, but everyone came through unscathed and wrapped up in a neat little package. That the JFC very quickly swept under the rug...
I know what you're all waiting for, so I'll skip straight to the good stuff. AWARDS SEASON! Though please, if you see Will Smith knocking around I would rather not get slapped in the face please...
- The "How Many Rooms Can I Destroy...I Mean Redecorate...Today?" award goes to Alex, AKA Lt Zade (and his miscreant batch of NPCs) who have escalated through the felonies this mission. Not only breaking-and-entering, but then kicking a grenade into the Ready Room. I'm starting to think it was deliberate, you know...
- Ushering in the inaugural "Don't Tell Anyone I'm ACTUALLY a Terrorist..." award, Serahni's Lieutenant Ryan, who once again proved why our ship needs a competent scientist in a crunch. Especially one that used to be in the Maquis and can probably jury-rig a half-dozen methods of killing you...
- The "I'M THE FEMALE JACK BAUER, DAMMIT" award is presented to Lieutenant P'rel. At this point, it's only a matter of time before the President puts P'rel on speed-dial for dangerous renegade operations. Because she plays by her own rules. Which she doesn't, because she doesn't play by *anyone's* rules. NB: Special recognition also to Finn for being the 'Chloe' to P'rel's 'Jack'. It's a 24 reference. If you don't get it, you're dead to me.
- A joint award, now, for Nveid and Xavier. We're going to call it the "The CW" award, because if any moment can be turned into a deep and meaningful personal heart-to-heart, we can guarantee it'll be you two. Or George. Or Teyo. Yeah, it's probably Teyo...
- Allow me to also include a Special Achievement award for this mission only: the "Phoenix Wright Wannabe" recognition is granted to Firestorm to Ennien, who may have set a world record for the number of OBJECTIONS in a single court case.
As much as we have those light-hearted moments to enjoy our adventures together, I do need to place on record a couple of sim adjustments now going live:
1) Obsidian Fleet saw fit to promote our dear Captain Kane to the rank of Commodore, which has now taken place in-character after a few months wait. This brings in some in-character tweaks, as he now has command of more than one starship. Paladin Squadron will be forming an NPC group of support vessels that will appear with us from time-to-time. These ships are restricted to the Sim Leadership team unless under special circumstances. More info on them can be found on our wiki page. Let me know if you have questions about them.
2) With the addition of Adam to the Sim Leadership team previously, I've seen fit to ensure he is able to contribute more effectively to mission advancement in-character, which is why we have elected to promote P'rel to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and given the additional responsibility of Second Officer (with Thy'lissa Shan getting that overdue transfer off the ship). This change has been made for mainly OOC reasons, so if you're wondering about IC consquences, direct concerns to me privately.
3) Finally, I want to flag a milestone that Nova has kindly drawn my attention to. Our wonderful XO Kieran has been officially a member of our sim for 3 years (I think the anniversary is early next week). I genuinely don't know how I'd cope without a sounding board and support like him, and I know that you all love having him to write with too. Help yourself to a beer on me, mate. Well deserved for putting up with me for that long.
In closing, I'll be launching our next mission within the next few days, and redeploying the USS Athena back to the front lines where she belongs, in our new adventure: "The Trojan Horse"
Peace out.
Paul
AKA
Commodore Kane
» Mission (and Year) End
Posted on Tue Dec 20th, 2022 @ 7:13am by Commodore Jacob Kane in General News
Greetings Travellers
Well, we're at the end of another mission. Admittedly this one took a few turns and RL did disrupt quite a bit of how we got there, but we got it over the line! Thank you all for your patience and flexibiity.
As is tradition, I have to hand out the classic Athena-style end of mission "awards":
- The Shoot First Award goes jointly to Lt Didrea Zade and Mason Malone. Because Friendly Fire is most certainly Friendly.
- Our Inaugural "I Need a Translator" Award goes to our newest NPC Lt Thral Skrit, whose JPs I have needed to re-read about three times over to get the gist of what they're saying...
- And I'm giving myself an award this time round. Yep. The "Getting the most out of your Insurance policy" Award goes to Captain Kane because it feels like we're averaging a ship a mission getting blown up. But at least it's not ours!
With it being Christmas and the end of the year, I wanted to wish the entire lot of you a fantastic holiday period, whatever you're up to. Naturally the posting requirement is loosened somewhat this next couple of weeks. Enjoy yourselves, but don't forget about us. XD
Details of Season Two, Episode Two: "Wrath of the People" will follow on Discord shortly, with an intro and some guidance for the next few weeks of tags.
Peace Out. Merry Christmas.
Paul
AKA Captain Kane
» End of Season Arc & Shore Leave
Posted on Thu May 26th, 2022 @ 7:30pm by Commodore Jacob Kane in General News
Hello fine crew of the USS Athena.
As is tradition, at the end of a mission I do one of these summary news posts to rubber-stamp things. With the closing of the short mission "Ares Ascending" we officially end Season One of our storytelling. As first seasons go, I challenge any season of Trek to perform better (although SNW seems to be on track to do that...)
As a reward for your fine work, we're running a shore leave period where fun and games can be had. An opportunity for character development, and to welcome newer members of the crew to proceedings.
Once again I get to share my personal highlights of this last mission, which are likely to be briefer than usual:
- P'rel going a little bit crazy and melting 'herself'
- Mason not knowing which way is right and which is left during a shootout
- Cardassian torture scenes are PG-13 sometimes
- Obsidian Fleet...on your left
I'll never get tired of thanking you all for making Athena loads of fun. Kieran and I are taking on board all the feedback you've given in the response form (gentle nudge if you haven't already) and so any suggestions for building on our success will be listened to and acted upon.
In the meantime, enjoy the downtime, have some fun with each other, if you want to USS Loveboat things for a bit go right ahead, and in a little while we'll look at what awaits us in Season Two!
Peace Out
Paul
AKA Kap'n Kane
» Mission End...and Start
Posted on Thu Mar 31st, 2022 @ 10:37am by Commodore Jacob Kane in General News
With that, we come to the close of "With Gleaming Eyes". I realise things were a little rocky around the middle there, but we got it across the line which is what counts!
We'll be launching into our 'Series Finale' story, titled "Ares Ascending", almost immediately. In-game characters have about 24 hours between the instruction to head for Rondac and the ship arriving. As I've mentioned, this plot will be a tiny bit tighter and shorter than others, as there are a few threads I want to tie off - however, there's still plenty of scope to play around within that, and as always if you have ideas do ask!
Personal highlights of this last mission:
- Fun with eggs in a mine. If you'd had an easter bunny in there we might have let you keep going over Easter.
- Teyo. Just Teyo. I don't need to say anything else.
- The Transport Of Shame.
- Savin, as always, wandering off and getting into trouble (it's almost a meme at this point)
Following the end of "Ares Ascending" we'll be giving space for a break, character development arcs and a general breather. Out-of-character I'll also be looking to take the crew's temperature on a number of topics - the way missions are being run, how you feel about the sim, plans for the future, etc. Kieran and I would love to hear your feedback when the time comes, so please do engage with that.
AND FINALLY
The USS Athena is literally the best sim in Obsidian Fleet. We have the award to prove it now! Thank you to each and every one of you for making sure we made this game fun and engaging. I'll make sure I hang our 'Platinum Sim of the Year' sign somewhere everyone can see it. XD
As always, keep having fun.
- Paul
AKA Captain Kane
» Mission End and Important Changes
Posted on Fri Sep 3rd, 2021 @ 9:35pm by Commodore Jacob Kane in Sim Announcement
Hi Everyone!
As standard when we finish an in-character mission, I do like to put together a summary such as this one with updates and, of course, the traditional post-mission awards.
Firstly, however, I do have some important sim news to deliver: John/Emu, also known as Commander Taeler Santu, has decided to step down as Athena's XO due to an overwhelming amount of RL things he wants to focus on. It goes without saying that as Athena's longest serving XO I owe a lot to him for his input, guidance, and experience. We're poorer for his loss, but wish him all the best and hope to write with him again one day.
This naturally leaves a gap in both in-character and out-of-character sim leadership, which Kieran has graciously agreed to fill. It was not a decision either of us jumped into without thought and discussion, but we both felt that it was right for the sim to have him assume the role and step-up to fill that space. He's already been doing some of that during my sporadic absences anyway so he's got the chops! Expect to see the in-character implications of all this in the coming weeks.
With that out of the way, just to say another big thank you to everyone for making "By Artemis' Bow" a good bit of fun! I know we meandered a bit here and there, but you all kept going and I'm grateful for that. And we're still winning sim awards left and right so we must be doing all right...
In time-honoured tradition, a few deeply serious and considered awards are to be given:
- The "You can't put me in a box!" award for Lt JG FalenvralLi Zh’kyhrihr for a creative way out of a sticky situation in a cargo container. Hope that headache clears soon...
- The "You don't smell like mud..." award is issued to Lt P'rel for one of the most hilarious posts I've seen in a long time. And she probably deserved to be covered in space cow poop just for being so prickly. ;)
- A "Tell me about your mother" commendation should also go to Lt Commander Savin for taking the opportunity to connect with so many of your crewmates during this last mission. It doesn't matter if we're shooting up pirates - you need to talk to your counsellor!!
- Finally, the "John McClane was probably Betazoid" award goes to Lt Xavier Leiko, who had his true badass moments in this mission. Climbing through vents, beating up bad guys, and saving the day. And he did it without needing to strip to just his vest...
And with that I sign-off for this rather chunky one. Do get in touch with myself or Kieran via Discord if you have any questions, suggestions, or issues. We want to continue making this the best sim in OF and that requires all of us.
See you out there!
Paul
AKA Captain Kane
Latest Mission Posts
» Hack & Slash pt2
Mission: Character Development
Posted on Sat Dec 28th, 2024 @ 4:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Lieutenant Ame Solis M.D. & Lieutenant Inara Deyren
The length of time spent on the holodeck was unknown, but it was likely it had gone well beyond the reserved time. If anyone had walked in to observe the two sparring individuals, it had gone unnoticed.
Savin was actually slowing down now, not because he was holding back again…
» Hack and Slash
Mission: Pandora's Box
Posted on Wed Dec 25th, 2024 @ 12:10am by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Lieutenant Inara Deyren
An incoming message from the USS Vanguard chimed through, lighting up the console in the ship’s counsellor's quarters. The name on the sender’s ID was one he hadn’t seen in quite some time, but it was familiar, maybe comfortably so. When the screen activated, Inara Deyren’s face filled the display,…
» Fuel for Thought
Mission: Character Development
Posted on Tue Dec 24th, 2024 @ 12:14am by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Rynlan Nemari
“Messhall to Commander Savin.” Ryn’s voice broke through the communicator, laced with an oddly calm urgency. “We seem to have a crisis of psychological need down here, and I could use your expertise. Are you available?” There was no hint of chaos in the background, just the usual hum of…
» Uninvited Guest
Mission: Pandora's Box
Posted on Mon Dec 23rd, 2024 @ 5:25pm by Lieutenant Ame Solis M.D. & Lieutenant Didrea Zade
Given the immediate nature of the situation, everything seemed calm and steady. Other ships from the squadron had arrived over the last 12 hours, and whispers circulated about what would come next and who might stake a claim to the precious machine. Ame had read over the schematics of the…
» Balanced Foundation
Mission: Pandora's Box
Posted on Wed Dec 18th, 2024 @ 3:40pm by Lieutenant JG Astrja Kyan & Lieutenant Ame Solis M.D.
Ame wasn’t sure what it was about accepting physical challenges from others, but apparently, it was an activity a day that would test her physical prowess. First, an uphill jog that her thighs had still not forgiven her for, and then the mad clamber up endless simulated Jeffries tubes with…
Latest Personal Logs
» Boxed
Posted on Mon Jul 22nd, 2024 @ 5:57pm by Lieutenant Ame Solis M.D.
USS Corvus - Leiutenant Solis Ame
“I’m reassigned again. That’s like four positions in just as many years. I liked the Forrest and I like it here. The Athena is bigger and we’re not going to be far from home. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a…
» Begin recording...
Posted on Sat Jun 10th, 2023 @ 8:56am by Lieutenant Commander P’rel M.D
LOCATION//: UNKNOWN
SERVER://: UNKNOWN
ENCRYPTION: PUBLIC FEED
SYS-PLUG// FEDERATION NEWS NETWORK.
=/\= LOG OPEN =/\=
You may begin recording
Computer, save this recording to location Gamma Three Two Two One Nine Four Seven, and transmit in the event of a cessation of my biomedical readings.
Confirmed. Uptake link established to…
» A Totally Normal Personal Log
Posted on Mon Apr 3rd, 2023 @ 3:47pm by Lieutenant JG Nayisa Wrea
Computer, begin personal log.
Never in a million years did I anticipate this turn of events. I'm... (sigh)
Gonna be acting chief while the Lieutenant is gone.
"Give it time and you'll love being chief," said Marcus... well, he can stuff it.
You realize how much work goes into running…
» The Other Side of the Coin
Posted on Thu Dec 8th, 2022 @ 3:08am by Lieutenant JG Nayisa Wrea
After a long day of processing data, Nayisa was glad to finally be in her quarters. The second the doors shut behind her, the bubbly smile faded, and she kicked off her shoes and began to remove her jacket. "Computer, begin personal log and run program Wrea-delta-five, authorization Wrea-gamma-six-one-one-theta."
The…
» Better to have loved and lost???
Posted on Sun Aug 7th, 2022 @ 4:41pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Sam Saghir
TIMELINE: After finding out about the Finn clone, after the date.
"Computer, begin log...
Fuck sake!"
----
Log Ends.