[Announce] The State of the Fleet, 2163

[blanhe2]

Resending since the list was not totally up-to-date. If you do get it twice,
my apologies.

Suzanna Batenburg

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 18 February 2013 03:04
Subject: [Announce] The State of the Fleet, 2163

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"
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