One of my fondest memories when it comes to being introduced to the Star Trek franchise as a whole, was the first time that I ever saw Lieutenant Commander Spock on screen. Because there was just something magical about seeing an alien with pointy ears, who had a giant IQ that he wasn’t afraid to use, be accepted by his peers and be embraced as a valuable member of the Enterprise crew. But while there was a strange nerdy personal tie that I immediately shared with Spock, what mattered more about that opening introduction to this iconic character, is the sheer fact that he was the first ‘alien’ that mainstream audiences were able to properly get to know and well… I think he’s one of the big reasons this franchise is so darn popular.
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Because for the most part, aliens are often viewed as bad guys in science fiction since they tend to come down to Earth to rob us of our precious resources or enslave us because they can and while that does make for good storytelling, getting to see how other species live in Trek is something that is far more powerful and supremely unique. Because it does in essence, humanize these beings and allow for us to understand other cultures better, a message we can definitely use in modern times. But all commentary aside, the franchise does deserve serious credit for creating so many fictional species that feature a rich future history and Spock’s race is one that has captivated so many and that’s why I’m so supremely thankful of the fact that Vulcan is a place that one can actually visit in Star Trek Online.

For this allows for fans of the series to get up close and personal with one of the most important worlds in the Federation, one that helped guide mankind to interstellar travel in the first place and well, I won’t lie, beaming back down here again after all this time, more or less took my breath away. Because despite its stark and harsh nature, there is an odd beauty to this planet, especially when one considers that this desert like world, one that looks inhospitable at first glance, is home to a race of beings who embrace the chaos of the environment as part of their push to find peace and logic in all things. Something that is reflected in the physical design of the cities of Vulcan, since everywhere you go offers up some unique and magnificent architecture, the kind that I’ve yet to see replicated anywhere else in the game.

Which means, in essence, the Vulcans are one with their home, since the powerful statues and cathedrals and monasteries seem to be extensions of the world itself and that really does make for some stunning views. But truly, the magic of arriving on this world, is the sheer fact that you’re standing on Vulcan. The very world that helped to bring mankind out of its darkest hour, that guided our planet to become part of something greater and where legends like Spock once roamed and that… just brings out the geekiest part of you and it’s quite cool to traverse this ancient world and see the monasteries that feature incredibly steep hills to symbolize one’s quest toward logic and to set foot in an arena that appears to be straight out of The Original Series episode, ‘Amok Time’.

If anything, this is indeed one of the coolest places in the game to visit, one that quite frankly I need to see more often simply because it takes me back to that sense of wonder I experienced the first time I saw the planet on the original Star Trek. Plus, it’s a fine place to be reminded of Leonard Nimoy’s contribution to the role of Spock and the franchise as a whole, since there is a memorial to him that stands in the square and well, this planet really is a Trekker/Trekkie’s dream come true. But alas, there is a bittersweet element that comes with this particular journey. For there is only one planet left to explore in the galaxy, the one that now protects and defends countless others. But before we return to Earth and everything it has to offer, we will take a moment to explore one more important element in the game, one that made this journey possible, and the bridge of the U.S.S. Galactica is where we will pick up our discussion, next time. Until then.  

Well my fellow fleet members, we are now entering the home stretch of our second voyage through the galaxy and knowing that we are near the end is always a bittersweet venture indeed. Because nobody likes for the story to come to a close but alas, there are only so many places one can visit within the Milky Way Galaxy in Star Trek Online and well, we’ve just about done that. But while that sounds horrendously ominous in its own right, as though I’ll be closing out this Log in 2019, that is simply not the case. It just means that I need to look at new ways to play this game and write about it in 2020, because reinvention is never a bad thing and new challenges in creative writing are always welcome.
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But before I dive too deeply into the future, in the here and the now, there are still some lovely places we need to visit, and all of them are located within the Beta Quadrant. In fact, all that is left to explore are some of the core worlds of the United Federation of Planets. If anything, it’s a bit of a shame that we technically only have three worlds that we can beam down to in this part of the galaxy, but that’s okay. There’s not a storytelling need to travel to say, Babel, at this point in time, and quite frankly, the worlds that are left to explore are quite important and fascinating in their own right since they’re so incredibly diverse when all is said and done.

Take for example, today’s destination, Andoria. For this world which has brought about some colorful characters over the years, specifically the Shran clan from Star Trek: Enterprise, is also unique in its makeup as well. For starters this particular planet really isn’t a planet at all, it’s a moon that orbits a gas giant that resembles Uranus and to make matters more interesting, it’s also a hostile world, one where you don’t see a whole lot of sunlight. Which means this is a cold and barren place, one where snow rules over everything and everyone and honestly, I have to admit that I find this world quite beautiful. Mainly because, I am a huge fan of the snow, so the instant I transported down this mysterious world, I was instantly taken aback by this galactic winter wonderland.

Because in many ways, the glacial valley you arrive within, is peaceful and serene in its own right. For gentle snow falls all around you and there is that flawless silence that you’ll only discover mere moments after an actual snowfall in your own backyard. Yet while this is a lovely place to just glance at and soak up the atmosphere, there are activities and such to be found upon the surface. For the Andorians are an aggressive race that love to have their mettle tested and often. Which means if you so choose, you can get involved in a little scrum on this world and be challenged to a duel in either a safe environment or one where the stakes are a little higher. 

If anything, it is just different to see a Federation world like this, where beauty and brutality merge together in flawless fashion. And while there isn’t a heck of a whole lot to do down here, just taking the time to explore a founding world of the Federation is neat in its own right since there is so much history here. But while our visit was brief in its own right, it was definitely worth while since it leaves one nostalgic for Star Trek shows and stories of yesteryear and thankfully this journey toward home still has plenty of nostalgia and wonder to send our way since our next stop, brings to us the iconic home of the late and great Ambassador Spock and that’s where we will pick up, next time. Until then.       

​Over the course of its illustrious fifty-plus year run, the Star Trek franchise as a whole has presented its fan base with some fascinating ideas and concepts. But of the many notions that this saga and its various iterations have provided us with over the years, one that has always fascinated me on a personal level is the idea that religion and faith can survive in an era when science and technology rule the day. Which is why the planet of Bajor was always a fascinating prospect in Deep Space Nine, since the franchise more or less established that those two elements of our society had gone the wayside in the 24th Century, making this proud planet quite the anomaly.
 
For the Bajorans genuinely believe that there are Prophets to obey and their writings and teachings dictate a way of life, yet they still take the time to embrace every technological benefit that the future has to offer. And seeing a world where technology and faith peacefully coexist is just an incredible prospect to say the least, one that I honestly feel the franchise never quite explored in proper fashion. But while we may not know enough about this world and its people and their incredibly powerful and detailed beliefs in the Prophets, that still didn’t stop Star Trek Online from giving the fans an opportunity to interact with this planet, by making it an accessible place within the game and I am honestly glad they did.
 
Because beaming down to Bajor is an oddly peaceful experience, primarily because there’s no drama to be found in this part of the galaxy once you’ve completed your mission arcs in this place. Instead there’s just a thriving city, filled with people going about their day and they’re surrounded by gorgeous architecture that reminds the player of some of the beautiful cathedrals that populate our world and as an added bonus, there are some supremely serene places for the player to get lost within as well. For the city squares are peaceful and tranquil, since they allow for you to just sit back and soak up the atmosphere and honestly, I was a big fan of the reflecting pool, complete with waterfall, that is pictured above because it really does offer up a little in-game Zen.
 
Yet what I truly appreciated about my visit to this world, is how well the game hammers home the fact that technology only enhances life for a people who trust in the Prophets above anything else and that just adds to the mystique surrounding this place. Because everything about this world points to a shunning of technology, especially when you think about its appearance. But as you explore a world that holds to faith over anything else, you slowly come into contact with places filled with LCARS displays and holograms and replicators and transporter pads and it’s just supremely cool to visit a planet that embraces the best of both worlds and it stands in stark contrast to Earth where technology reigns supreme.
 
If anything, Bajor is quite the lovely little oasis when all is said and done. For there are few places where one can beam down in the Alpha Quadrant. In fact, I think it’s just here, the Dilthium mining facility nearby and another station somewhere near the edge of the known galaxy and it’s quite nice to swing by Bajor and wipe away the loneliness of the Alpha Quadrant, and I hope STO eventually offers up new missions involving this world. Because it would be quite cool to explore new areas on a planet that I personally feel didn’t get enough face time during DS9’s illustrious run, and now that we are done with a quick stop at Bajor, the time has come to return to the Beta Quadrant, to explore some of the core worlds of the United Federation of Planets, starting with one chilly planet. Until next time.

​Okay, so, I know what you’re thinking. I keep promising a particular visit to a particular place, only to quickly change course and visit someplace else and for that, I apologize. But dang it, sometimes Star Trek Online dangles something in front of you that is so shiny and magnificent that we just have to talk about it right then and there and well, that’s what happened in regard to today’s log. Because in my many years of playing this game and sharing my experiences about it with all of you, I keep forgetting to settle in and discuss the wonder the scary story that STO offers up to Trekkers/Trekkies everywhere. Because every Friday the 13th and every Halloween, something wicked comes to the galaxy.
 
For there is a horror themed mission present in this game, one entitled ‘Hearts and Minds’, and it is quite the unique mission to play when all is said and done, provided of course you can find it. Because even when you’re searching for it during the appropriate time frame, it’s not exactly broadcast within the game itself. Sure, you’ll find it on the Events calendar, and you’ll hear about it on social media. But if you want a 25th Century scare, you’ll need to dig into the Incoming Hails section of the menu, and in that place, if you look under your archived chats with Franklin Drake, you will see the title of this particular tale. And once you agree to take on the mission, you’re headed to the Donatu System in the Donatu Sector in order to check in on the now silent Doctor Sibak and that’s when the fun begins.
 
Because the good doctor’s research facility is a disturbing place filled with surprises untold. Granted, I don’t want to spoil the surprise before the next holiday launch of this spooky mission, so instead, I want to talk about what makes this mission sinister in its own right. For there are some genuinely creepy moments to be found here, most of them involving Sibak. For his ominous log entries and how they’re presented, and your encounter with him (that spoils nothing), are pretty chilling in their own right. In fact, it’s the log entries that bug me every single time since they’re just so unsettling and the mission gets serious credit for its atmosphere as well. For the lighting here is eerie in its own right and you never quite know what is waiting for you in the shadows.
 
But while creepy moments are cool in their own right, what really impresses me about this particular episode, is that it fits the mold for the franchise. For whenever any iteration of Star Trek tried to creep us out, it kept the stories grounded in science, giving us a tale that more or less showed us scientific missteps or beings from another dimension that swung by ours to do us harm. And for a fine example of this, check out The Next Generation episode, ‘Schicms’, and you’ll see what I mean. But back to this episode, it too is grounded in science, and everything you encounter here is never over the top or outlandish and it is nice to see the game pay homage to the scary Trek stories of yesteryear and offer up a unique experience for the player as well.
 
If anything, this is one that oddly is worth replaying, largely due to the fact that there’s a limited window to do so, and that’s why I broke away from our standard journey to talk about it today. Because Halloween was the perfect time to enjoy this adventure once again and I dunno, it would be weird to talk about it in the middle of the holiday season since there is a Friday the 13th in December. But now you’re prepared to tackle this mission if you’ve never had the chance to play it before, and hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do. And now that we are done with this twisted journey, it’s back to that all-important second journey through the galaxy, I promise, and I’ll see you in the Alpha Quadrant next week when we set foot on Bajor. Until then.