[Announce] The State of the Fleet, 2163

[Robert]

Friends and fellow writers,

It's been quite a while since I wrote one of these, and quite overdue, 
so let me get right into it:

First, you'll notice that we're down a few SIMs.  Both Challenger and 
Intrepid have closed shop for the time being, gong on "indefinite 
hiatus" until such time as our player numbers rise again.  There just 
wasn't enough: not enough players to go around, and not enough CO's to 
step up.  So the crews have been transferred to /other/ SIMs to bolster 
/their/ numbers, and Challenger and Intrepid are gone but not forgotten. 
  One day they'll be back.  Until then, TFE presses on.

Yorktown, Meridian, Forrest Outpost, and New Darwin Colony are all doing 
well with healthy player bases and active lists.  Recruiting is up, and 
the remaining SIMs are plugging along nicely.  The transition into a 
fledgling Federation is proving quite interesting, and offers new 
opportunities for writing fodder as we develop our characters, our SIMs, 
and our Fleet.  Thank you all for staying with us and making The First 
Era such a great place to socialize and write!

That said, it's with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement.  I've 
been with TFE for twelve years, starting (on any SIM, ever) with my 
Garroway character on Meridian as a newly minted helmsman, and ending 
him up as Admiral of the Fleet.  It's been quite a ride with both him, 
and my other long-standing character, Thompson.  Both have provided me 
with innumerable hours of fun in writing and co-writing their stories, 
and using them to help with other characters' stories, as well.  This 
hobby had been the most enjoyable experience, and become very important 
to me.  I wanted to take this time to thank everyone, past and present, 
who has ever written with me, or taken the time to complement me on 
something they liked in anything I've written.  I never complemented 
everyone else enough, but I've always been very impressed with the 
caliber of writing I find myself amidst and playing off of.  You've 
challenged me to be more creative, and a better writer than I /ever/ 
would have been without you.  Thank you all for the best of times!

I say "retirement" because I've got some major life changes coming up, 
and I simply won't be able to continue.  In a year I may be able to 
reassess by commitments, responsibilities, and leisure time.  But I've 
already done that with what's ahead of me right now, and the result is 
my leaving TFE.  If I can be back, I will.  Most certainly.  But that's 
just not in the cards right now.

Replacing me as head of TFE is Kate, who plays Commodore Sheppard of 
Fleet Operations, and also has long-standing characters on Forrest and 
New Darwin.  Sheppard will soon take the reigns as Admiral, and 
everything will be in her very capable hands.  I have faith in her, and 
especially in /you/, to keep TFE strong, fun, and the best SIM Group around!

And so I take my final bow.  Take care, keep on keeping on, and don't do 
anything I wouldn't enjoy.

Robert
"Garroway"