The Admiral’s Log: My Journey Through ‘Star Trek Online’ – Part LVII

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

The U.S.S. Galactica – More Than a Starship

‘My friends, we’ve come home.’
- Captain James T. Kirk 

​Something I’ve noticed is an outright constant when it comes to naval vessels, is how many sailors tend to refer to their ships with fond admiration, and as their outright home. It’s something that I’ve seen in television and the Star Trek franchise as well and it is honestly something, I’ve only half understood for the longest time. For part of me gets it, you sleep there, eat there, live there and that is indeed home enough but it’s also just a ship, right? It’s a hunk of metal that sails the seas, or in the case of Trek, it’s an airtight hunk of metal that travels the stars. But as time rolls on, I’ve come to realize that there is a legitimate reason for sailors and Starfleet officers to look upon their vessels so fondly, simply because… there is more to them than meets the eye.
 
Because these vessels really are more than just hunks of metal doing their thing. They are indeed homes, where lives grow and thrive, something that was taught to me by both my father and my brother since they are both Navy men and have been happy to share their experiences aboard a ship. But while that was incredible and fascinating to learn in its own right, one particular element of a sailor’s dedication to a vessel eluded me. Specifically, why so many stand behind their ship as the greatest in the fleet, and view their ship as something more, that is until recently. Because as cheesy as it sounds, Star Trek Online is helping me to understand this particular trait and that’s thanks in large part to the fact that I’ve been flying the U.S.S. Galactica NCC-1775-B for about two years now.
 
Which is funny because when I first started playing this game, I was heavily interested in getting my hands on every ship that I could, just to enjoy the Star Trek experience properly, and I’ll never forget the pride that came with flying the Sovereign class Galactica-A since that was about as close as I was ever going to get to flying the 1701-E. But once I got over the glamour and glitz of flying T.V. and movie ships, I came to realize that I needed a vessel that could handle anything and everything that the game throws at you and that’s when the Galactica-B was commissioned. For an Odyssey class vessel is quite versatile and powerful in its own right and after slowly getting her to my standards weapons and loadout wise, I settled in on this vessel and came to understand her true majesty and everything that sailors hold near and dear about their respective ship.
 
Because eventually you come to know your ship like an old friend and that’s really what she is, a great pal that is always there in a time of need. And by knowing your vessel well, you know exactly how to handle it and what kinds of stresses you can put it through in order to complete the mission and yeah, you quickly do become to believe your vessel is one of the greatest ships out there. For you know the old girl is going to accomplish wonders and is going to get you through tough times if you trust in her abilities and eventually the ship does become a genuine home. Because despite the fact that I visit Earth often in the game, it doesn’t take long for me to order the Galactica back out in deep space because her bridge is where I belong, and it is just wonderful to be home and traveling amongst the stars, armed with the knowledge that your trusted friend is there for you through thick and thin.
 
As an added bonus, the game is also nice enough to let you explore portions of your vessel, and there is just something so supremely cool about standing in your own ready room like other famous captains and admirals in Starfleet, or sitting in the big chair on the bridge with the viewscreen and the vastness of the galaxy ahead of you. And sometimes your ship is so massive that your bridge leaves you in awe, and I feel that every time I visit my own, since the bridge of 1775-B is two stories tall. But all of that aside, one’s ship really is important in the game, and when you’re as big of a Star Trek nerd as I am, being able to command one for years on end like Jim Kirk or Captain Picard were able to do, lets the imagination take hold and brings out the geekiest parts of you and I am not ashamed to share the thrill I enjoy when my avatar sits in that chair because this was all I ever wanted growing up.
 
But all joy and nerdiness aside, our journey through my ship has only delayed the inevitable. Because at long last we have come to the end of our second journey through the Milky Way Galaxy. Which means that for the next couple of weeks, we will explore the heart of the United Federation of Planets; Earth, and everything it has to offer. So be ready for an in depth look at the wonder of Earth Spacedock since it really is a massive structure worth exploring and discussing on its own and of course, we’ll spend plenty of time at Starfleet Academy, as the Admiral’s Log closes out its 2019 entries. Until next time. 

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