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| Shadows on the Magellan Told as Part of Fright Flights. Ah, the Shadow makes an appearance sending the crew scurrying for safety |
The Christa McAuliffe Space Center Turns Dark and Spooky with the Introduction of Fright Flights. A New Halloween Tradition
Halloween is one of those non holiday holidays which perfectly matches our fleet of starship simulators. Don't we include a fright or two in nearly every mission we tell? What about those mission written solely to scare the pants off a crew? My point exactly, Halloween and the simulators are a match made in that dark and scary place.
Friday night was the first annual Fright Flights at the CMSC. I would have stopped by to judge the scarryness myself if I'd remembered. Thankfully The Troubadour has Audrey Hendrickson, our on site reporter, who captured a few of the frights for everyone to enjoy. Many of the photos in today's post were taken by Audrey. Thank you and thank you.
Friday Night Fright Flights: Youth Missions
The Odyssey
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| The Odyssey bridge air handler. Something wicked that way came. |
The Phoenix
Meanwhile, the Phoenix crew had a secret meeting with Amice (Jordan Smith) before they were unceremoniously interrupted by by a band of miscreants. A shootout ensued up and down the hallway. Many brave youngling cadets officers suffered phaser wounds as they courageously fought their way back to the ship. Their Doctor William (JJ M.) revived those who had been stunned.
Later in the mission Dr. William was carted off by another creature from the black lagoon while on another Phoenix away mission. All that was left showed his heroic struggle as the creature dragged him away.
Nice bloody floor addition. I think I would have added another alien from the dark world Vampiere, found on all fours licking the remains from the tile. Gruesome yes? I'm sure a few of the Younglings would be in counseling after seeing such a horrid thing.
The Magellan
The Magellan told "Shadows" an old tried and true mission I wrote back in 2002. Shadows is set after the Great Borg War, my addition to Star Trek lore. In the story, Orion Pirates who share a sick sense of humor, attack the ship and attempt to take the bridge. Many duels took place in the Gym, which was well dressed up in pirate attire.
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| The Shadow visits the Magellan Control Room. Many were touched, but few were chosen..... I had to say it. No one else would. |
Many crew members were shot because of malfunctioning phasers. Magellan engineer Alastair (Orion Bowers) stood up to the pirates as a matter of honor and was promptly shot in retaliation as any self respecting pirate would do.
Flight Director Connor, showing his true colors, decided to accessorize with the Pirate colors in the Control room. Later in the mission, for reasons those who've done Shadows know all too well, the Magellan lost all power, and was boarded by a mysterious shadow (Orion) who went on to "touch" crew members.
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| The Shadow on the Magellan doing his worst. |
Orion (the Shadow) somehow managed to kill Engineer Alastair (also Orion). The crew held a funeral for their fallen engineer with much wailing and crying. Several beautiful eulogies were given.
The shadow chased them around the bridge several times before the crew figured out how to get rid of it. Many of the bridge crew were touched, but due to their quick thinking doctor, none of the bridge crew were permanently lost. Tyler G. was himself so exhausted from saving so many lives that he took a quick break in Discovery before the funeral.
Saturday Night Fright Flights: Adult Missions
The Magellan
Just how many people can you squeeze into the Magellan Control Room? I think the CMSC staff tried to set the record Saturday night for the Fright Flights Magellan mission. With Flight Director Connor and Second Chair Mr. Porter it looked like the adult Magellan crew had the dream team working for them. Audrey Hendricksen, the Troubadour's reported on the spot, reports the number at 11. A volunteer or two ducked down as the picture was taken, afraid to be photographed in the company of such villainous slime.
Not wanting to criticize the current Space Center administration, but I feel it my duty to kindly point out a safety violation to avoid a potentially dangerous situation which could lead to loss of life or limb. Notice the careless handling of the phaser by the volunteer sitting directly behind the flight staff. Notice it pointing in the general direction of the Director, Mr. Porter. Notice the finger on the trigger. I'm guessing the phaser's safety is switched to off. Notice the volunteer working on something stuck in his nose. All it would take is one unfortunate nose hair plucked out with the offending crusted nasal mass to cause the volunteer to slightly jerk. That jerking motion would cause the trigger finger to twitch, thus firing the phaser. A sad day indeed.
I'm proposing Mr. Porter take the care of phaser arms more seriously. A phaser arms safety course should be instituted immediately for all current staff and volunteers.
The CMSC's in house battalion of certified Space Pirates took the bridge, and being the good sports they are, chose not to stun the crew straight away. Instead the crew was challenged to a series of duels held in the gym.
Honoring the greatest duels of the past, the pirates chose the back to back and several paces duel. The fastest draw won.
As you can see from the picture above, the crew had troubles dispatching the pirates due to malfunctioning phasers: the Space Center's phasers have never been reliable. It should also be pointed out that the volunteers and staff get first selection of weapons. The best of the lot go to them, leaving the unreliable blasters for the crew.
Another cause for the carnage seen in the photo above could be pirate annoyance with the crew. Expect a barrage of phaser power if you ignore the staff "call". A "You're Down!" shouted by a member of staff means you are stunned and expected to drop to the floor. By all means go down with style. Give everyone watching an Academy Award winning performance, but be in good form and please go down.
The Magellan crew crawled their way back to the Discovery Room once they escaped from the distracted pirates. Discovery was set up as deck 2 engineering, complete with a medical area for triage. Dr. Nathan Young had to heal at least half of them so they could attempt to liberate the ship's bridge.
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| The Discovery Room: Engineering and emergency sick bay |
The Magellan crew had three eager engineering characters who helped them through the mission. Unfortunately Tyler G. met death from the shadow. Lissa E. and Cecily H. managed to survive for a while before being assimilated into the Borg mind.
The Magellan crew was treated to a level 3 mission with little to no training and very little staff help. They can be proud of their victory because it was all them. The only time they had a bridge officer was for calling shots.
Overall the camps were successful. The adults were scared at the right points of each mission. Congratulations to the staff and volunteers of the Odyssey, Magellan, and Phoenix for a successful first every Fright Flights!
Once again I want to thank our Troubadour on the scene, Audrey Hendricksen, for sending the pictures and descriptions. Her reporting will keep you in the know of CMSC events.
Finally, Audrey sent some quotes from the crew and staff from both nights of Fright Flights.
Mr. Williamson
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| Orion Receiving his Flight Director Blues from Galileo Set Director Erin Williams |
Orion Bowers was officially welcomed into the third most prestigious club in the Space EdVentures World. He is now a flight director. The second most prestigious club is Set Director and the first is Center Director of course.
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| Orion was so happy he did a jig up and down the hall to show off his new colors |
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| Orion and Erin in Mr. Porter's office where Orion took the official oath of a flight director and was duly given not only the shirt, but the sugar that goes with the promotion. |
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| Orion received his Galileo pin from Erin in August 2016. Two years after that and he's now a Galileo Flight Director. |
Orion started as a Voyager Club cadet back in the day. From there he started volunteering at the Space Center. He is an example of how far someone can go with a bit of drive, grit, and stick to it ness.
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| Orion in character as the Magellan doctor |
Congratulations on your promotion Orion. You deserve it and will make an excellent flight director.
Mr. Williamson
The Space Center Enters Another Audrey Masterpiece in Central Elementary School's Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Another Halloween is fast approaching and that means another amazing entry by the Space Center's very own Audrey in behalf of the Space Center for the school's library pumpkin contest. The theme this year was "Adventures" and since the Space Center does the best EdVentures, you can safely bet on who will win. Right?
Marissa Ohran Celebrated her 22nd Birthday. Another Christa McAuliffe Space Center Outstanding Member of Staff
On behalf of the everyone who has had the pleasure of working with Marissa and flying as a crew member on one of her missions, we all want to say "Happy Birthday!". Marissa has been a part of the CMSC for many years. She is loved by her co-workers and always brings a positive attitude with her to work.
And for the tenth time Marissa, I apologize of forgetting your name a few months back. Don't judge me too harshly. I can't remember all my student's names and even struggle at times remembering the name of my own assistant director at the Space Academy. I think his name starts with a B. It will come to me given enough time.
Mr. W.
Imaginarium Theater
The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience
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