Polaris Writers' Manual

Starship Polaris

Writers' Manual


"Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Polaris. Her mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out dangers and wonders. To boldly go and make a stand!"


For everyone who was inspired by a small ship which went against the big wide world




I. The backstory

During the Earth-Romulan War, Starfleet was busy pushing forward to Romulus. What they didn't know is that the Romulans are also pushing toward Earth. In the wake of a destructive attack, a group of Human pilots, gunmen and merchants decided to put together a fleet to hold the line should the Romulans arrive. Using old and outdated starships and led by a small fleet of seventeen privately owned light cruisers, they laid the cornerstone of what became the United Earth First Fleet. They held the line when the Romulans came and found their way after the founding of the United Federation of Planets as a permitted "member fleet".
As the decades went by, the First Fleet crossed paths with the felinoid race of the Kzinti and the two sides are usually locked in a cradle of hate and a small but deadly war about every thirty years. After the Second Man-Kzin War, First Fleet Command decided to build a fast, strong and agile class of starship: the Pallada class. This was the class which became a symbol of Earth as much as the Constitution was to the Federation.
Fighting a war they couldn't win, the USS Polaris, a Pallada class light cruiser is transferred to Starfleet service as a planetary survey vessel. Her crew, expanded with an unwanted Starfleet scientist, deals with situations they never experienced before, as well as see the Universe on a larger scope – and what they see often contradicts what they thought in their entire lives.



II. The Polaris

Third in the line of the Palladas, the USS Polaris is a light cruiser of 18 decks, mediocre speed, great manoeuvrability and limited firepower – making the best of what strict Federation policies allowed. She's a venerable old lady with lots of fights behind her and many left for her.

Important facilities per deck:

- Deck 01: The Bridge. This is the command centre of the Polaris.
- Deck 02: The staff room: Briefings and conferences are held here. The conference room/chapel/podium: Large numbers of people can assemble here.
- Deck 03: Library computer room: Used by Ensign Ainsworth to look for data unavailable on the Bridge terminal
- Deck 04: Cargo holds: dim and dark, not usually visited by anybody
- Deck 05: Senior officer's quarters: Our heroes live here. Sickbay: Dr. Kelley's realm where she patches up wounded crewmen
- Deck 06: Crew quarters: Most people live here. Transporter room: used to beam people up and down planets
- Deck 07: Cargo holds: Raw material and food is stored here
- Deck 08: Weapons deck: Torpedo launchers and phaser emitters
- Deck 09: Workshops: Fabrication facilities
- Deck 10: Emergency bridge: A control station inside the neck
- Deck 11: Observation lounge: A nice view to the stars
- Deck 12: Laboratories: Complex data is analyzed here
- Deck 13: Freshwater tanks: Another place not usually visited by anybody
- Deck 14: Shuttlebay observation deck: The upper strip of the shuttlebay
- Deck 15: Shuttlebay: The Strelka and the Sonora are launched from here
- Deck 16: Engineering: Big Chief White Eagle's territory
- Deck 17: Warp core, middle stage: What you see when you look down the Warp shaft
- Deck 18: Lower engineering bay: Main intermix chamber, matter and antimatter pods

Weapons:

- Two phaser banks (fore)
- Two phaser banks (aft)
- One torpedo launcher (fore)
Note:  the "ring" on the lower saucer rotates, allowing the fore phaser banks a larger firing arc, without having to turn the ship. The phaser banks are also upgraded (without the consent of authorities) to have a much larger power output.

In general, the ship looks more worn and less sterile than ships-of-the-line, but it's also more homely. While the saucer section has an internal layout almost the same as a Constitution class starship, the stardrive section is extremely cramped.



III: The crew

First Fleet people are not what you'd think to occur within the peace-loving Federation. Compared to the Starfleet elite, Earth's boys and girls are blue-collar at the best. They can't quote their everyday Shakespeare, they're politically incorrect and sometimes even outright xenophobic. But they're all devoted to protect the interests of the United Earth and her colonies, even at costs unimaginable by Starfleet people. While Starfleet people are explorers, scientists and diplomats, the First Fleet employs soldiers and vigilantes. First Fleet people are easily distinguishable by their distinct uniform and the fact that they're all Humans with a generally Human-centric view of the world.
The Polaris is under the command of seven key characters who hold together at all costs, much like a family. Each of them comes from a different background which has a major influence on how they see the world around them. The senior staff can be summed up in a single sentence: Seven people see the big wide world and see seven completely different things.

The senior officers of the USS Polaris:

Captain David Metlesits – The CO


Place of origin: Elizabethtown outpost

Nationality: Hungarian

Social class: White trash

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Failed to meet the requirements of Starfleet Academy

Character type: Id

Character flaw: hot-tempered

Skills: leadership, tactical

Other traits: fanatic determination

Nickname: Skip (used exclusively by Vasya Nussbaum), Herr Kaleu (used exclusively by Rochus Heimann)

Quote: What is the mission of this ship? I've heard this "boldly go" bullshit from too many good captains. This ship has a clearly defined mission: we open our arms when everybody else turn their heads away.



Commander Vasily Nussbaum – The XO/Tactical officer


Place of origin: Leningrad, Union of Soviet Sovereign States

Nationality: Russian-Jewish

Social class: Middle-class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Childhood ambition

Character type: Ego

Character flaw: stubborn as a horde of mules

Skills: strategy, tactical

Other traits: Phasers akimbo!

Nickname: Vasya (used by David Metlesits and Ludmila Nussbaum)

Quote: They say we First Fleet people use brawns over brains. Well, it's not us who operate dreadnoughts. And not the ones who're too stupid not to know how to blast that dreadnought out of the stars.



Commander Jerome White Eagle – The Chief Engineer


Place of origin: Presque Isle, Maine, United States of Northern America

Nationality: Native American

Social class: Working class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Wanted to get as much away from his childhood life as possible

Character type: Id

Character flaw: rude manners

Skills: mechanic, technician

Other traits: physical strength

Nickname: Big Chief

Quote: The Captain said he needs point three C impulse speed. I told him it's impossible. I did it anyway. Quite easy, you know.



Lieutenant Rochus Heimann – The Communications officer


Place of origin: Altena, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, European Union

Nationality: German

Social class: Middle-class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Did not agree with many Starfleet policies

Character type: Superego

Character flaw: self-depriving (to live up to the "strict German military officer" image)

Skills: communication, linguistics

Other traits: diplomacy

Nickname: -

Quote: They say in space, nobody can hear you scream. Let me prove you wrong.



Lieutenant Ramón Jésus Jiménez – The Helmsman/Navigator


Place of origin: Barcelona, Spain, European Union

Nationality: Spanish

Social class: Working class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Wanted to avenge the loss of his family's cargo ship

Character type: Ego

Character flaw: utter disrespect toward everybody (especially ranking officers)

Skills: pilot ace, navigator

Other traits: trickster

Nickname: -

Quote: Let me be your pilot, I'm doing it far better than anybody. And that includes you.



Ensign Charlotte Ainsworth – The Science officer


Place of origin: London, Republic of England, European Union

Nationality: English

Social class: High Middle-class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Stayed with the Polaris crew after the ship was re-assigned for First Fleet duty

Character type: Superego

Character flaw: inexperience, by-the-book methodology

Skills: sciences

Other traits: dance, acrobatics

Nickname: (The New) Kid, Lucky Charm (used by David Metlesits and Vasily Nussbaum), Little Sad Eyes (used exclusively by Rochus Heimann)

Quote: Some people think I'm just a little girl lost in space. I'm always eager to surprise them.



Doctor Abigail Kelley – The CMO


Place of origin: Holly Pond, Alabama, United States of Northern America

Nationality: American

Social class: Middle-class

Reason for joining the First Fleet: Failed to meet the xenobiology requirements of Starfleet

Character type: Ego

Character flaw: extreme xenophobia

Skills: practical medical knowledge

Other traits: mother hen

Nickname: Ma

Quote: All the others aboard this ship do their best to get themselves gutted. What would they do without me?




IV: Terminology

First Fleet people use a slang that comes from Human languages, military slang and technical jargon, at a level you can't find in any other Federation navy. Here are a few examples:

Aspergers: Vulcans
Atomic Wedgie: Vice Admiral
Cats: Kzinti
FOO-bar: protein ration pack
Grand Master: Lieutenant-Commander
Hoss: Commander
Jurassic Park: Tzenketh (the planet)
Kangaroo Admiral: Branch Admiral (highest ranking officer of the First Fleet)
Master of Life and Death: Fleet Admiral (of Starfleet)
Meatsack: crewman (especially of the security division, comparable to "Redshirt", used derogatively)
One-stripe: Lieutenant
Piggies: Tellarites
Senior Would-be Admiral: Commodore
Space Service: Service in the First Fleet
The Brady Bunch: Flag officers
The Fleet: Starfleet (always and exclusively)
The Freak Show: Non-humanoids
The Man: Admiral
This side of Heaven: Known/explored space
Utopia Township: The Federation
Wedgie: Rear Admiral
Would-be Admiral: Captain
Would-be Lieutenant: Ensign
Xenocracy: The Federation Government (especially if headed by a non-Human)
Xenoes: Extraterrestrials



V: Mottoes

The First Fleet has its own mottoes and slogans, which are often used as battle-cries in the heat of a little one-on-one against the evil alien of the sector. Here are the three most common ones:

Cum Arma Pro Patria Terra: Meaning "With Weapons for the Fatherland Earth", this slogan was emblazoned on the mission patches of the seventeen original First Fleet light cruisers. It later became the official motto of the First Fleet, creating much controversy with its verbally aggressive attitude.

Terra Prevails: The un-official motto, and the most commonly used battle cry. Whether it is shouted from the Captain's Chair or from behind a phaser rifle, it symbolizes the unbreakable spirit of Humankind.

Hail Dysnomia: Originally a victory-cry from the Romulan War, it later became a farewell signal for First Fleet ships leaving the Sol system, Dysnomia being the moon of the outermost Human home system planet, Eris.



VI: Places of interest

Travelling through the stars or visiting old Terra, the Polaris often finds herself at interesting planets or other places. Here are the most important ones:

Earth: The home of Humankind, Starfleet and the First Fleet, also the Capital planet of the Federation

Nehelania: A dwarf planet beyond Pluto, the Sol system's major dilithium refinery is located here

Eris: The border of the Sol system, the final planet a Human sees before entering deep space

Mizar (Zeta Ursae Majoris): A gas giant with an M class moon, the central base of all Western naval operations

Elizabethtown, Franzstand and Csepel: Three planets on the Western border of the Federation, occupied by the Kzinti after the Third Man-Kzin War, liberated in 2270

Cait: The homeworld of the Caitians, an offshoot race of the Kzinti, but members of the Federation and strong allies of Humankind

Wilhelmina Colony: A colonized asteroid, housing a tight-knit community of slum-dwellers




Thank you very much for reading this little manual on how to fly the Starship Polaris. Happy Kzinti-busting vigilantism. Terra prevails!