#starbase 1

[more-better-words]

What's that? Random SB1 funnies with Monica and Prina McAllister? Certainly somebody was clamoring for that.

(and even if you weren't, here it is anyway 😅)

Tags: @deadheaddaisy, @indignantlemur, @shadowinthefire, @pearlypairings, @1lostsoul0fishbowl, @pajamasecrets, @pumpkinfreak

Monica liked to call them block parties - the weekend gatherings that took place in the Core every so often, usually to mark birthdays or anniversaries or various cultural holidays. She liked to think that her and Karveth's anniversary party had kicked off the trend, but the denizens of Starbase-1, Starfleet and civilian alike, had made it their own.

To her embarrassment, she couldn't remember this exact impetus for this particular get together, but it was centered around Manny Luza's grocery store and all the food set out on tables in the thoroughfare was from Lilian Calderon's cafe, so she suspected it was a Filipino holiday. The Tagalog language music issuing over the speakers enforced the supposition.

Regardless of the reason, she just loved to see a party. And since Karveth was working third shift that evening, as he made a point of doing at least ever other week (let no one accuse him of avoiding unpleasant duty shifts just because he was in charge), she threw herself into being Party Help. That was why she ducked back into the grocery to fetch more ice at around 2030, passing its somewhat flushed proprietor, who was, oddly enough, tucking his shirt back in. He didn't appear to notice her, but the person exiting the shop's back room as she entered did. Prina McAllister was in the process of rezipping her uniform when she saw Monica, and she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Don't," she commanded. Monica raised her hands, palms out, in immediate surrender. But she had to ask anyway.

"Don't what?"

"Whatever you're about to say, don't say it."

"I wasn't going to say anything."

Prina narrowed dark, suspicious eyes, futilely attempting to rake her mussed hair back into some semblance of order. "You're not going to do that old married thing where all your single friends need to be in committed relationships? Because this is just a bit of fun."

"I happen to be a big fan of fun," Monica retorted, glaring back, hands still lifted. "And what do you mean, 'old married'? I'm younger than you!"

"Yes, but you and Karveth are so…together."

"So?" Monica lowered her hands to her hips, blowing a raspberry. "If you and Manny are doing a casual thing, I'm just happy two of my friends are having a good time."

Prina still looked vaguely dubious. "Really?"

"Yes, really! What did you think I was gonna do, suggest we go on a double date or something?"

"The thought had crossed my mind."

Monica blew another raspberry to express her offense. "I would never! Besides, can you imagine Karveth on a double date?"

"No."

"Exactly!" Monica shot her friend a warm smile. "What matters is that your bit of fun is fun, and your good time is good."

Prina's defensiveness smoothed, and she cleared her throat meaningfully. "Quite good."

"That's all I need," Monica said brightly, then added, unable to help herself, "Of course, if you need lessons in how to be an old married…"

"Shut. Up."

"Just putting that out there."

[thedivergentrealities]

Earth Spacedock or Starbase 1 was a Federation space station facility in Earth orbit, built sometime prior to the year 2285.

[trektothestars]

[starfleet-oshc]

(@no-mans-osha)

A ship landed on the Starbase

The NMO representative from before emerged.

They looked around, getting a vague feel of the place

As you approach the station's docking bay, you look around at the massive station. You're not sure you've seen a station this massive before.

As you dock with the station, a small team in yellow shirts come out to inspect your ship, waving tricorders at it before you get an "all-clear" signal, letting you know you can leave the ship. You see Armine waving from a nearby window. You hear the intercom:

"Oh! hello again! Welcome to Starbase 1. Do you need repairs or supplies? Let me give you the tour."

Armine gestures to you to come up to his office.

[beammeupchief]

This design is common to a number of large starbases, such as Starbase 1. It has docking facilities for several starships. Similar space stations also exist in Earth's orbit.

[more-better-words]

Director's Commentary!

I'd usually ask about Under A White Sky, but today I think SB1 deserves some director's insights and featurettes. Especially how and why Monica becomes the Patron Saint of the Core(s) (heck, I bet her processes played a role in the success of a station that became incredibly popular several centuries later.

Go wild, val'tor! 💜

Now, are we talking about Starbase 1 the setting, or specifically about the story Far From the Sun?

Eh, why choose? 😁

I knew I couldn't keep Karveth and Monica on Mars forever, but I also knew he would never accept a position on a starship, because he wouldn't want to be separated from Monica, and dang it, family on a starship isn't a thing until the post TOS era! (And honestly, I'm not sure it's a thing for the majority of Starfleet vessels in the TNG era, just the big 'uns)

So where do they go from here?

One of the little things I've really liked about Strange New Worlds is Starbase One, and how it serves as their home port, so to speak. And digging into the (beta canon) history of Starbase One, we find it's existed since the ENT era! Sort of - according to certain sources, its first iteration was destroyed during the Romulan War while it was still under construction, with a second attempt being completed after the war's end.

Hmmmm, says I. That's handy timing.

So Karveth gets a transfer to SB1. Now what will Monica do?

The reason Monica thrives in hospitality is because she likes people, and she's good with them. An environment where there's a ton of new people constantly moving in and out is perfect for her, honestly. I drew a lot of my inspiration from DS9's Promenade - you have a public space with shops (we'll just overlook the money/lack thereof issue for now), eateries, services, all that good stuff - but how does it work, between Starfleet and a civilian population? And what if the how of it all got lost in the shuffle of trying to just get this place up and running?

And what if there's one person who's perfectly suited by temperament and inclination to bridge that gap?

I'm actually intending to come back to the Service Association and how Monica gets it going in future stories, but she's the one who lays the groundwork, and I'm just so proud of her for it!

(Karveth is too, obviously, but he's also not surprised at all, because he knew she could it, and anybody who doubts her will learn the error of their ways)

(His wife is so hot when she's steamrolling fools 🥵😁)

[beammeupchief]

Starbase 1 was a Federation starbase administered by Starfleet. In the 2250s the starbase was home to over 80,000 Federation personnel. During the Federation-Klingon War, the starbase was attacked and occupied by the House of D'Ghor

[beammeupchief]

Star Trek 2009 starbase 1