A Klingon Ship’s Plaque?

This evening, I decided to play around a bit and create one possible version of a ship’s plaque from the Klingon faction and created the above.

My hope was to give it enough differences to make it stand out differently that that of the Federation.

Of course I could have written in Klingon but no one would have understood it! :)

First New Dedication Plaque


As you can see, I have begun working on new ship dedication plaques that can be used to create plaques to represent the ships of the Captains Alliance in the game Star Trek Online. :)

This adapts a plaque template found on the internet.

SNAPshots: “Heading South”

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Heading South

Both from Brooklyn, N.Y., Reid Sewell and James Shultis walk away from the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center after rattling the front door and finding the establishment locked.

Of course, this is Monday, July 5, with many businesses observing the holiday from the day before.

The pair had hoped to find someone that could help them in their quest to find where the Appalachian Trail connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway atop Afton Mountain.

“We’re hiking south towards Iron Mountain,” explains Sewell.

Located in North Carolina near the Tennessee border, the hikers talk about their plans to hike around 400 miles.

Of course, there is a goal at the end of the planned trek.

“My parents live down there,” Sewell continues.

“It’ll take us about two and a half weeks or so,” says Shultis, “with us hiking several miles each day.”

Sewell wears a t-shirt and shorts while Shultis is dressed in a tank-top with shirts.

Both wear where comfortable shoes suited to the journey.

Considering the heat, how will the pair remain cool and hydrated?

“Lot’s of water and hope,” says Sewell.

As a pre-school and kindergarten teacher, Sewell has the summers off.

Meanwhile, Shultis recently graduated from Queens College.

With both having the necessary time available, joining forces and tackling the trek together seems only natural.

To begin the trek, the pair left New York that morning. They traveled by bus and arrived in Charlottesville.

“We went to a wedding near here last week where we met a bartender who said he would pick us up from the bus stop and give us a ride to up here,” says Shultis.

The search for the trail’s access point takes time, but eventually the pair find what they seek.

With both now walking at a steady pace, Sewell looks toward Shultis and smiles.

One after the other, the hikers slip over the railing beside the road and disappear along the trail walking south.

— Mike Tripp, photojournalist

Published in The News Leader on Monday, July 19, 2010.

Rolling Back to a Tier 4 Escort @ Rear Admiral

One of the things I did on Tribble (the Star Trek Online test server) recently while testing Season 2 was to really enjoy the refit of the Defiant style escort.

For me, she handled somewhere between a Klingon Raptor and Bird-of-Prey.

So when I returned to the live server … I decided I wanted to give the Tier 4 a try … and have NOT gone back!

The difference in her and the refitted version you can get at Vice Admiral (besides the cloak) is the shield strength is slightly less and you are missing the extra ensign slot which at T5 is an additional tactical.

Keep in mind also that I run with heavy beam supported BO powers and so have the following.

Fore: Tet beam, Quantum Torp, Tet single cannon, Tet Dual beam bank.

Aft: Tet Beam and Quantum Torp (VADM refit has an additional aft weapon slot which for me on tribble had another Tet Beam array)

So how does she perform in battle? …. I consistently top the charts in Starbase 24 fleet action as well as cut through the borg in the Gamma O. DSEs.

How I fight is to hang in tight and close with me being an engineer giving me a slight advantage as it gives me a much needed heal that fills the gap in healing rotation.

Toss in that you are in constant motion which means you are consistently giving them different shield facings to shoot at … adding to you longevity.

By hanging in close, my ship keeps all beams on the target while also being able to swing around to give em torps … almost always holding firm on the areas of my target where the shields have dropped.

And hanging in so close … the enemy is hit most often at point-blank range.

But what about those other escorts … Fleet and Advanced? … My Defiant literally flies circles around them.

When I get her refitted after season 2 … she will be an evil creation.

QUICK CLIP: “Music While You Wait”

David Sault of Central United Methodist Church entertains children and parents waiting to participate in the Children’s Parade at America’s Birthday Celebration by playing songs on his accordion on Saturday, July 3, 2010. (Quick Clip by Mike Tripp/The News Leader)

QUICK CLIP: “Flute and Drum Circle”

Sights and sounds from a gathering of Spiritheart Flute & Drum Circle of the Shenandoah Valley held at Mary Baldwin College on Monday, June 28, 2010. The group meets monthly and is open to members of the public who wish to participate. (Quick Clip by Mike Tripp/The News Leader)

The-Pathfinder: “Mega Smiley” Denied!

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“Mega Smiley” Denied!

“Mega Smiley” is one smiley that is currently denied for me as although I have searched and searched … it was nowhere that I could find it.

Finding ground zero was easy as there definitely is a large smiley at the spot to be found but unfortunately it is not the one that gets you credit for finding the geocache.

On two different days and occasions, I searched the location with an extensive and long search performed on the second day.

I followed every geocaching trail I thought I could see as well as sifted through all the tall grass as well as searched the strands of lights around the palm trees to see if a micro might be woven in and well camouflaged somehow.

So diligent was my search that I walked away with scratches on both arms as one of the short palm like plants to the rear of ground zero was disagreeable with the search efforts.

Knowing I had family waiting for me to return as well as fearing I would be holding them up, I finally left location and decided it must be lost and gone.

Disappointment rose in me later as when I checked after having returned to our home in the valley, I learned others had found that which I could not.

Frustration and disappointment abound as I heave a heavy sigh, wonder at how out of practice I am as well as when my almost 3-year-old will be old enough to let (and even help) me search more depth, enjoyment and easy.

I find I miss the days of old when there were fewer demands on my time … time that currently (even on vacation) hovers only slightly above zero.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

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“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

I.K.S. PATHFINDER: “Curse of the Mega Smiley”

N 36° 51.793 W 075° 58.719

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,07,13

On the first day, we sought out the mysterious “Mega Smiley,” and although we found the grinning sphere with complete ease, the hidden outpost remained elusive to our imperial scanning equipment.

We searched ground zero for about 15 minutes before forced to retreat back to our fortress overlooking the beach which was secured for our stay in the region.

The next morning dawned with our bat’leths sharpened and held to the ready.

Again we stormed ground zero, this time combing our way from front to back and from side to side.

Suspected geo-trails were followed and into the brush we dug to the point that blood dropped from one warrior’s arms as a result.

No luck with finding this …. mysterious outpost … as it continued to elude those of the Empire who thought we were being most diligent in our search.

However, honor is stripped from us on this mystery as we have seen intelligence reports that others have found what we cannot.

All I can say is that the location has been logged in our ship’s memory banks as our warriors will one day return in force to complete the conquest that has as yet been denied us!

– Brig. Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire

The-Pathfinders: “The Norwegian Lady”

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The Norwegian Lady

As a person who loves photography, history and a good story, I loved seeking out and seeing the “Norwegian Lady.”

Having just left a neighboring arcade, our small team found her standing as she was described facing out towards the sea.

The inscription on a plaque at the site of the statue reads:

“THE PEOPLE OF MOSS, NORWAY, HAVE SENT ME TO COMMEMORATE NORWEGIAN AND AMERCAN SEAMEN WHO PERISHED TOGETHER WHEN THE NORWEGIAN BARK “DICTATOR” OF MOSS WAS WRECKED OFF THESE SHORES ON MARCH 27TH, 1891.”

The added bonus of finding this was seeing the wonderful sculptures at her back that existed as part of Naval Aviation Monument Park.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

- – - – - – - – - – - – -

“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

I.K.S. PATHFINDER: “Honoring the Norwegian Lady”

N 36° 51.218 W 075° 58.548

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,07,12

Our Klingon warrior spirits drove us forth this evening to seek out something new that was worth not only finding but honoring.

And so it is that the Norwegian Lady is worthy of such efforts.

One who stands eternal watch our of respect and honor for previous souls lost has proven themselves to us and thus are worthy of our songs and praise.

So it was that we raised our bat’leths in salute of the noble lady depicted in stone.

Likewise, we took time to honor the warriors depicted close to this noble lady’s location.

Qapla’ !!!

– Brig. Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. PATHFINDER
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire