Difference between pages "Olympia Station" and "Melkot"

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{{Starbase
{{icons|bfc}}{{Government
| name = Olympia Station
| name = Melkot
| image = [[File:DeepSpace20.png]]
| image =  
| registry = DS-20
| species = Melkot
| class = Spacedock
| homeworld = Unknown
| commission = 2327
| founded = Unknown
| decommission =
| warp = Unknown
| unit = Fourth Fleet Operations
| language =  
| taskforce =  
| currency =  
| taskgroup =  
| government = Unknown
| squadron = Arcturus Squadron
| leader =  
| quadrant = [[Alpha Quadrant]]
| advancement =  
| role = Exploratory Support
| military = Unknown
| affiliation = *[[United Federation of Planets]]
}}
*[[Starfleet]]
The '''Melkot''' are a xenophobic species and minor power with territory in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. Historically xenophobic and deeply territorial, they have long jealously guarded their borders and resisted encroachment or even peaceful visitation by any outsiders. The [[Federation]] made a [[ma:Spectre of the Gun (episode)|fraught first contact in 2268]], with the USS ''Enterprise'' earning permission to enter Melkot space. Since then, relations between the Federation have been cordial at best, non-existent at worst. There are rarely interactions between the two powers; [[Starfleet]] ships may not approach or enter Melkot space without permission, and the Melkot have only communicated with the Federation in times of dire need for either side. In those times of necessity, however, contact has been possible, and the Melkot wary of engagement but open to discussion.
| sector = Olympia Sector
| system = [[Olympia System]]
| co = [[bfms_char:41378|Commodore Brett Logan]]
| crew =*30,000 Starfleet
*5,000 Civilian
| dedication =
}}'''Deep Space 20''', code-named '''Olympia Station''', is a Federation [[Spacedock Class|''Spacedock''-class starbase]] located in the Olympia system on the extreme rimward trailing edge of Federation space near Sheliak, Tholian and Tamarian space. Named along with the system it resides in for the ill-fated exploratory vessel USS ''Olympia'', this starbase serves a similar purpose to [[Deep Space 17]]: a waystation for long-range missions beyond Federation space.
==Operations==
Assigned to the Fourth Fleet, Olympia Station supports the following operations in the Olympia Sector:
*Service exploratory starships embarking on and returning from missions outside of Federation space.
*Conduct scientific research on nearby systems and identify sites for future Federation colonization.
*Monitor the expansion of the Sheliak Corporate and Tholian Assembly.
*Maintain diplomatic relations with the Children of Tamar.


=== Exploratory Support ===
== Melkot Species and Culture ==
First and foremost, Olympia Station supports Federation and Starfleet vessels heading into deep space, both with physical engineering and logistics support and through sensor and communications functions. Olympia Station is the last starbase any vessel would be able to receive repairs or fuel from before heading towards the galactic edge or deeper into the Alpha Quadrant. It's also a terminus (for now) of the subspace relay network, making it the last place where anyone could hope to have synchronous or semi-synchronous conversations with superiors, friends, or family across the Federation. The station's massive computer cores are also used to collate and process exploratory information collected by missions in the area.
The Melkot themselves are non-humanoid and powerful telepaths. They have bulbous bodies without limbs, which appear to float through unknown means, and have bright, round eyes. They are capable of projecting telepathic illusions that are indistinguishable from reality to the recipients, especially in non-telepaths. These illusions are so potent that experiencing injury and death can cause sufficient psychic trauma to hurt or even kill. Other telepathic species, such as Vulcans, have proven capable of resisting the illusions with varying degrees of success.


=== Scientific Research ===
The only confirmed survivors of a telepathic illusion intended to be lethal for the victim was the crew of the ''Enterprise'' in 2268. They were immersed in an illusion of the Old West and were expected to be killed in a gunfight. It is believed that the Melkot identified an experience, setting, or period that the crew associated with violence, where death would be an inevitable outcome. It was through resisting this expectation of violence, when Captain Kirk refused to kill an illusory opponent, that the Melkot became curious enough about humanity to make contact.
Olympia Station conducts its own program of scientific research in neighboring systems and across the Olympia Sector, with its support ship, the ''Nellie Bly'', and its small fleet of runabouts. Primarily, the aim is to identify planets for future colonization, but stellar mapping and general exploration are secondary priorities.  


=== Monitoring Regional Powers ===
Little else is known about the Melkot people. The Federation highlight their xenophobia and territorialism, but also point to the fact that they were stirred by unexpected mercy from those they viewed as invaders. Starfleet presumes the Melkot border policies to be dictated by fear, and thus strives very hard to follow the example of mercy and compassion set by Kirk in all their dealings with them.
While neither the Sheliak Corporate or the Tholian Assembly are actively hostile to the Federation, they are considered to be possible threats by Starfleet Intelligence due to their xenophobia. The Federation maintains limited diplomatic relations with these races, and one of the functions of Olympia Station is to monitor the space beyond their territory to look for signs of aggression or expansionism.


=== Diplomatic Relations ===
== Border Defences ==
Many species maintain consulates on Olympia Station, both Federation members and other powers, as they wish to be kept apprised of any first contacts made on this remote frontier. In particular, however, Olympia Station has been tasked with supporting and maintaining diplomatic relations with the Children of Tamar, promoting joint operations where possible. The following species have consulates on Deep Space 20:
The Melkot leave warning buoys at the edge of their territory, which all communicate a message directing anyone approaching to leave. Those ignoring such warnings are treated harshly, with the Melkot demonstrating their xenophobic tendency to view such outsiders as 'aliens' or even 'disease'. Most ships which ignore the warnings meet a grim fate, the Melkot sentencing them to death. Either technological defences repel encroaching ships or, if possible, the Melkot kill the crews through their telepathic illusions.


* Tamarians
Ships which need to approach Melkot space are advised to establish a communication link with a warning buoy, state their business and identify themselves as part of Starfleet, and await further contact. If no response is heard, no ship has permission to violate Melkot territory.
* Tellarites
* Humans
* Vulcans
* Andorians
* Betazoids
* Denobulans
* Klingons


The Federation also maintains a diplomatic mission on the station, which works in conjunction with the station's commander and Starfleet to provide consular services to Federation citizens.
== In Play ==


===Support Vessels===
* The Melkot are a deeply inhuman and unknowable species encountered in one episode of TOS, who are also deeply isolationist. This combination gives writers only limited storytelling opportunities with them, as it is inconceivable Starfleet would not leave them alone unless they had no other choice.
[[File:ChallengerClass.png|alt=The USS Nellie Bly, a Challenger-class scout.|thumb|The USS ''Nellie Bly'', a ''Challenger''-class scout.]]
* With the right level of emergency or accident, Starfleet ships may still have encounters in or near Melkot space. It is up to the writer if the Melkot would accept any request for access, or how indulgent they would be of transgression, especially intentional. This might be an opportunity for intense and difficult diplomacy, or a story of a crew trying to survive an encounter with Melkot telepathic illusions such as those seen in TOS: Spectre of the Gun.
Olympia Station is primarily supported by the [[USS Nellie Bly|USS ''Nellie Bly'']], a [[Challenger Class|''Challenger''-class scout]]. The ''Bly'' performs scouting functions around the Olympia system, as well as diplomatic courier missions to and from Tamarian space. The ''Bly'' has her own commanding officer, though senior starbase personnel will act as mission commanders when necessary.
* Melkot telepathic illusions feel real to all but the most disciplined of minds or powerful of telepaths. If your crew is hit by one, it's entirely up to you how much Vulcans, Betazoid, or others are affected, or how much they can affect the illusion in turn. The Melkot are clearly very powerful, but it's up to you decide what's best for your story.


All twelve of the station's runabouts are [[Runabouts#Arrow-class runabout|''Arrow''-class vessels]], which are kept in a constant rotation to support exploratory missions in the surrounding sector, with two of the twelve typically held in reserve for urgent missions and for station defense. Out in the field, these small starships typically operate with a crew of twelve on six to eight-week missions.
== External Information ==


== Configuration ==
* [[ma:Melkot|Melkot]] at Memory Alpha
Compared to the stock ''Spacedock''-class station, Olympia Station has been modified many times over its nearly eighty years of life. It has modern systems and its docking facilities have been reworked to handle 25th-century starships, though these modifications did not include widening the upper bay doors, so the largest vessels must vie for space in the single large docking bay in the lower docking module.
 
=== Command and Control ===
[[File:StationOperations.png|alt=Station Operations and the four Docking Control facilities share an identical layout, with an office for the commanding officer (in the case of Station Operations) or the Dockmaster (for the Docking Control Facilities).|thumb|Station Operations and the four Docking Control facilities share an identical layout, with an office for the commanding officer (in the case of Station Operations) or the Dockmaster (for the Docking Control Facilities).]]
Station Operations is located at the base of the upper command module on top of the spacedock centered on Door 12. This facility is heavily shielded and its large viewport can even be sealed off with a sheet of ablative armor when necessary. It is from here that all approach and docking requests are handled, before being handed off to one of the docking control centers. Tactical functions are also controlled from here, and it is the equivalent of the main bridge of a starship. This facility is identical to the four docking control complexes, and command of the station can be handled from any of them in an emergency.
 
=== Docking Facilities ===
[[File:SpacedockInterior.jpeg|thumb|Each of the station's four interior docking towers can support two cruiser-sized starship, one each side. Anything much wider or longer than an [[Excelsior Class|''Excelsior''-class heavy cruiser]] would struggle to pass through the space doors and dock.]]
The upper spacedock has a four-armed docking column that supports up to eight midsized starships--midsized by 25th century terms, anyway. The space doors at 90-degree angles along the rim of the upper dome leading into the bay are labeled 12, 34, 56, and 78, as they allow access to mooring points 1 & 2, 3 & 4, and so on, like a clock face. Halfway between each set of space doors is a band of six shuttle bays that also provide access to the interior of the bay, each with a docking control complex taking up the center; each docking control complex is responsible for the quadrant of space it faces. The upper docking module can only accommodate ships up to 245 meters wide, as the doors are 250 meters wide.
 
As with [[Gateway Station]] and the Starfleet Museum, Olympia Station's arboretum module was retrofitted to serve as a single large berth capable of servicing a single [[Odyssey Class|''Odyssey''-class heavy explorer]]. This bay, in the middle third of the lower module, is labeled 9, and is 1,200 meters deep, 600 meters wide, and 200 meters tall. Below this bay are twelve large hangers.
 
The habitation modules above and below the lower docking module each have four shuttlebays. Runabouts, shuttles, and small civilian vessels have access to these dozens of hangers at various levels across the station, while larger vessels generally orbit the station when they don't need service.
 
=== Arboretum ===
In its original configuration, the lower docking module was dominated by a large arboretum that took up the upper two-thirds of the module, with the station's travel core running down the middle. Because of the addition of a large bay for an explorer-type vessel in this area, the arboretum has been shrunk substantially to take up the top third of of the module, but like in other new facilities, its use of holographic technology makes it look just as large as it did before. The travel column continues down the center of the arboretum, but takes a horizontal path over the docking bay, before proceeding down again, and then back toward the center of the station under the docking bay.
 
==History==
The Olympia system has been home to an automated Starfleet deuterium refinery since the late 2370s, but plans for an eventual starbase to coordinate long-range exploration of the Alpha Quadrant were canceled during the Romulan Evacuation Mission. These plans never resumed due to Starfleet's inward-looking focus throughout the 2380s and 2390s. In 2400, the Fourth Fleet revived these plans. With the ''Spacedock''-class [[Starbase Bravo]] recently replaced by a new [[Guardian Class|''Guardian''-class station]], Fourth Fleet Command decided to relocate the original Starbase Bravo to the Olympia System. During a year-long process, the station was refit and towed across Federation space to its new location. It was formally recommissioned in mid-2401, with [[Arcturus Squadron]] becoming the first exploratory group to call it home.
 
==Notable Crew ==
===Commanding Officers===
*[https://bravofleet.com/command/89731 2401-Present:] [[bfms_char:41378|Commodore Brett Logan]]
 
==In-Play==
*Olympia Station is a flag station command assigned to [[bfms_user:669|Admiral Liam Dahlgren]], but members may feature it in their stories in accordance with [[Command_Policy#4_-_Flag_Stations|Section 4 of the Command Policy]].
*Similar to Deep Space 17, Olympia Station is a waystation on one of the Federation's most distant frontiers. It is intended to fuel, supply, and repair ships for long missions outside of Federation space. It is approximately 300 light-years from Starbase Bravo, a two-week journey at Warp 9.99, and 128 light-years from Avalon Fleet Yards, a six-day journey at Warp 9.99. Slower ships would take weeks or months to reach the station.
* There are few direct threats to Olympia Station, as the Tamarians are friendly to the Federation and the Sheliak are uninterested in dealing with them. The Tholians can be a bit of a wildcard, though.
*Compared to other Starfleet starbases, Olympia Station has a lower civilian population, as it's not on a major trade route—at least not yet, as that will change when new colonies start to emerge.

Revision as of 14:08, 21 March 2024

This article is official Bravo Fleet canon.








Melkot
Basic Information
Major Species

Melkot

Homeworld(s)

Unknown

Founded

Unknown

Warp Capable

Unknown

Political Information
Governance Type

Unknown

Military Branches

Unknown

Template:Government

The Melkot are a xenophobic species and minor power with territory in the Alpha Quadrant. Historically xenophobic and deeply territorial, they have long jealously guarded their borders and resisted encroachment or even peaceful visitation by any outsiders. The Federation made a fraught first contact in 2268, with the USS Enterprise earning permission to enter Melkot space. Since then, relations between the Federation have been cordial at best, non-existent at worst. There are rarely interactions between the two powers; Starfleet ships may not approach or enter Melkot space without permission, and the Melkot have only communicated with the Federation in times of dire need for either side. In those times of necessity, however, contact has been possible, and the Melkot wary of engagement but open to discussion.

Melkot Species and Culture

The Melkot themselves are non-humanoid and powerful telepaths. They have bulbous bodies without limbs, which appear to float through unknown means, and have bright, round eyes. They are capable of projecting telepathic illusions that are indistinguishable from reality to the recipients, especially in non-telepaths. These illusions are so potent that experiencing injury and death can cause sufficient psychic trauma to hurt or even kill. Other telepathic species, such as Vulcans, have proven capable of resisting the illusions with varying degrees of success.

The only confirmed survivors of a telepathic illusion intended to be lethal for the victim was the crew of the Enterprise in 2268. They were immersed in an illusion of the Old West and were expected to be killed in a gunfight. It is believed that the Melkot identified an experience, setting, or period that the crew associated with violence, where death would be an inevitable outcome. It was through resisting this expectation of violence, when Captain Kirk refused to kill an illusory opponent, that the Melkot became curious enough about humanity to make contact.

Little else is known about the Melkot people. The Federation highlight their xenophobia and territorialism, but also point to the fact that they were stirred by unexpected mercy from those they viewed as invaders. Starfleet presumes the Melkot border policies to be dictated by fear, and thus strives very hard to follow the example of mercy and compassion set by Kirk in all their dealings with them.

Border Defences

The Melkot leave warning buoys at the edge of their territory, which all communicate a message directing anyone approaching to leave. Those ignoring such warnings are treated harshly, with the Melkot demonstrating their xenophobic tendency to view such outsiders as 'aliens' or even 'disease'. Most ships which ignore the warnings meet a grim fate, the Melkot sentencing them to death. Either technological defences repel encroaching ships or, if possible, the Melkot kill the crews through their telepathic illusions.

Ships which need to approach Melkot space are advised to establish a communication link with a warning buoy, state their business and identify themselves as part of Starfleet, and await further contact. If no response is heard, no ship has permission to violate Melkot territory.

In Play

  • The Melkot are a deeply inhuman and unknowable species encountered in one episode of TOS, who are also deeply isolationist. This combination gives writers only limited storytelling opportunities with them, as it is inconceivable Starfleet would not leave them alone unless they had no other choice.
  • With the right level of emergency or accident, Starfleet ships may still have encounters in or near Melkot space. It is up to the writer if the Melkot would accept any request for access, or how indulgent they would be of transgression, especially intentional. This might be an opportunity for intense and difficult diplomacy, or a story of a crew trying to survive an encounter with Melkot telepathic illusions such as those seen in TOS: Spectre of the Gun.
  • Melkot telepathic illusions feel real to all but the most disciplined of minds or powerful of telepaths. If your crew is hit by one, it's entirely up to you how much Vulcans, Betazoid, or others are affected, or how much they can affect the illusion in turn. The Melkot are clearly very powerful, but it's up to you decide what's best for your story.

External Information