The Newsletter of USS Liberator
The Fates Vol 3 Issue 3 July 2004 Vol 3 Issue 3 The Fates
The Velvet Glove Right of Center
Like Curt, it is hard to believe that it is the middle of Hard to believe it but summer is almost half July and in a few months it will be getting cold again over, and it’s about time! I hate the hot humid already. Unlike Curt, I like the warm weather and hi- weather. bernate in the winter with the snow and ice. Hate just Well some of us got together at the air show thinking about it. Yuck. at Akron Fulton airport for a real nice time. We will be starting up our on-line meeting chats Clear sunny day, low humidity, beautiful. again. The chat room is http://www.regionone.net/ Anyone who knows me know I loathe baseball chat. Our first chat will be on Thursday, July 22 at 9 (that’s with a passion) the game is just to slow P.M. EST. Now for the members who are in the area, we will which makes it boring to me. However in the start monthly meeting too. It will be held in Akron, interest of the Liberator I took one for the team Ohio at the Acme on Manchester Rd in the new com- so to speak. A Cleveland area Star Wars fan munity room.. Meetings will be the last Saturday of club contacted a Cleveland area Starfleet chap- the month from 5 P.M. EST on. ter to see if any of the local chapters would be Make sure to check out the article later in the news- interested in going to an Akron Aeros game. So letter with the dates for the meetings. to show our presence I went. After the game Being a meeting chapter now, we still want to use they had a really nice fireworks display. (like my the list serve too for keeping in touch between meet- ings, listing events, and fiction. I have tried a few head needed the booming) As fate would have it times to get our fictional side (role-playing) going for Curtis went to the wrong game! DUH ME! And members on the list. I usually have been the only one to add insult to injury I went a month early. and so it dies before it really gets started. I would like We have entered into the election time not to see that start up and for new members that are just for the USA but for Commander of Starfleet interested in it to help get it going. As we get more (CS) as well. Les Rickard a former CS is run- and more new members, we can get a good story go- ning once again. Against him Mandi Hermann ing too. Livingston. Les did a good job as CS in the past I was going to list the many, many position open- ings in this newsletter but I ran out of room. I will so no problem there. But Mandi has held staff next time. Anyone interested in one contact Curtis positions in the Region and for one reason or an- or myself. Just a remember department heads must other quit and then resurface a few months later submit a report every other month for the newsletter. to take another position only to do the same Well ran out of room. Till the chat or meeting, hope thing. Now this is just my opinion but my vote to see you there and well. will go to Les. Ruth Members we have lost a few over the last year. Maybe because we could not meet or THE FATES is the Official newsletter of the maybe for other reasons. However we can cor- Sovereign Class Heavy Cruiser USS Liberator, NCC 75008 which is a chapter of Starfleet rect this we need to correct this. We also need International the Star Trek Fan Club. This is a to do group things. Like away missions, and fund Fan publication intended solely to inform and amuse Starfleet members and not to infringe on raising. Running a meeting chapter will be con- the copyrights held by Paramount. Contributors siderable more expensive than a corry chapter. retain all the rights to their work. Opinions of the OK now I’m ranting so that means it’s time for individuals do not necessarily reflect those of the USS Liberator me to go for now so until next time stay safe, Report articles should be submitted to cool, and dry. USS Liberator P.O. Box 13075 Akron, Ohio 44334 Curtis [email protected] Vol 3 Issue 3 The Fates Musings…..From the other side flowers are the best. From there you can just go to town as to placement. Make it attractive Not much going on with me this and bright. Let the spirits guide you in the di- summer. After our trip to Tennessee rection they want you to go. Hang the wind in April, I’ve pretty much spent most chimes or maybe some planters on the walls if of my time at work. I have a lot of fun you have a fence or walls to use. Let your down there and this year was no different. Wade, imagination rule you. But remember to keep it Missy, Dennis, Alan, Greg, and all the rest of you cleaned out of weeds and well watered. Sit down there are a hoot and I really hope to see you back and enjoy the magick. again next year no matter where the summit is. Really disappointed we didn’t get the summit for For a meditation garden, you can also start 2005, but maybe next time. with a small space, but this time keep things to Have spent a lot of time in my garden this a minimum. Maybe a well place bench. A year, also at my sister’s garden. Growing things is statue of Budda or Mary, maybe even a gaz- not one of my specialties. If it’s green and needs ing ball somewhere accessible. The plants you attention, I tend to kill it. I don’t really mean to, I should stick to are more of the herb types. just don’t really have the knack or a green thumb. Sage, mint, rosemary, lavender and lilac. Now if I can stick it in a hole, ignore it, I’m good to Roses are good, so are pansies. Moonflowers, go. Mint, sage, wildflowers thrive in my presence. night blooming jasmine, night blooming flowers Not much else though. Well, except for my are good for those late evenings with friends. mother’s Wisteria, which I hate but grows like You might want to set up a water fountain or crazy no matter how much I cut it down and try to research how to make a sand garden. Ponds get rid of it. But this year I have gotten some other and waterfalls add to the tranquility of the set- herbs from friends and I have been helping my sis- ting. You could still use the wind chimes, but ter set up a fairy garden and a meditation garden in only one or two, and maybe a well placed sun her yard. Her yard is quite large and she has the catcher. If you can you could even create a room for it. And it’s been nice and things are actu- small labyrinth walk or a candle circle. Again ally GROWING. I’m impressed. I realize you all let your imagination run with it. Spirit is just probably aren’t but I have to get my thrills some- waiting for you to listen. where. ;-)))) So for those of you who would like to put Well, I am getting ready to go to Starwood some magick into your every day or maybe would this July. My 10 days of pagan bliss. Time to just like to attract some positive energy. Here are some ideas for a fairy and meditation garden.
For your fairy garden, you can start with a fairly small place. Make sure to clean out the weeds and set aside the larger rocks for use later. You need lots of shiny objects, colored rocks or statuary. Fairies are also attracted to wind chimes and sun catchers. Flowers can range from simple wildflower patches, to flowers that attract butter- flies and humming birds. Bright colors are a must. Snapdragons, pansies, tiger lilies, really fragrant Vol 3 Issue 3 The Fates
New Technology: Quantum Flywheel The quantum flywheel (QF) is an energy storage device, based upon the same principles that transporter pattern buff- ers use to compactly store vast amounts of energy from dema- terialized matter. The QF stores plasma energy in a rapidly rotating quantum field. Adding plasma to the field "speeds up" the rate of spin, and slowing the rate of spin causes the fly- wheel to give off plasma. Uses: Quantum flywheels can be used to "smooth out" the energy stream of power generation systems prone to fluctuating outputs. A small Quantum flywheel can be used as a "battery" for short-duration vessels, such as probes. A series of Quantum flywheels can be used to store excess output from a power source, then augment the power source during higher-than-normal power consumption, as in combat.
Holographic Hull Projectors Holographic Hull Projectors (HHP) confer a chameleon-like ability to adjust hull reflectivity and emissivity. This gives a fair imitation of cloaking without massive power consumption. This makes a vessel extremely difficult to detect, and makes a positive weapons lock-on nearly impossible. It does not, however, confer true cloaking ability. It may also be used to actively display desirable hull markings such as registry numbers, ves- sel name or distinctive insignia. HHPs wll not disguise the basic outline of the vessel.
Multifunction Phased Arrays Multifunction Phased Arrays: Integrated networks of emitters and sensors imbedded directly within the hull matrix itself. Each array includes sensors, phaser emitters, navigational deflector emitters, deflector screen emitters, and tractor beam emitters. Each array can take a significant amount of damage before perform- ance is noticeably diminished. (The Borg aren't the only ones who can assimilate new ideas!)
Photon Cannon The photon cannon was inspired by the phaser cannon. Instead of using a gravity shell to contain a phaser blast, the photon cannon confines phaser energy within a subspace containment field. This concen- trated "energy packet" is then fired at a target at subspace radio velocity (approximately 60 billion kilometers per second). The photon cannon is a high-powered long-ranged weapon. The amount of energy confined within the subspace field diminishes by half every 5 seconds, so the effective range is limited by the "muzzle energy". At a designed maximum power of one terawatt, the energy decays to less than 5 megawatts in ninety seconds of travel, by which time the energy packet will have travelled nearly 208 light-days (about 5.4 trillion kilome- ters). A one-terawatt energy blast decreases to less than one watt within 200 seconds, and poses no hazard. This projectile cant change course or velocity, and is totally unaffected by energy fields. The containment field is destroyed upon contacting a solid object (electromagnetic energy, as all subspace energy does eventually. (The containment field would be devoid of significant energy by that time and would have very Vol 3 Issue 3 The Fates New Technology: continued Although it requires obscenely accurate fire control, MEETING TIMES the two main advantages of the photon cannon are: MEETING TIMES 1)Since the energy packet travels at the same ve- locity as subspace radio, the target vessel cannot We are now a meeting chapter. Upon our ap- prepare for any specific blast. By the time sensors proval as such Ruth sent me on a mission. A mis- could detect the incoming energy packet, it would sion to secure a place to have regularly scheduled be on top of the target. meetings. This mission has been accomplished! 2)The energy packet stays coherent over extremely We have been approved to meet the last Saturday long distances (over 300 light-days). This extends of each month in the community room at the Acme on Manchester Rd. Our first meeting is July the range at which a target may be engaged by a 31, 2004 capitol ships main weapon, but introduces the ne- Now there are a few very few rules we must cessity of either extremely large target acquisition abide by. sensors (to achieve adequate accuracy at range) or 1) Any food or drink must be purchased from the remote target aquisition devices, such as the SAR- catering service inside the Acme store only. No food or drink (bottled water included) may be carried in or purchased from Acme. With the room comes the use of a DVD, CD, and VHS players as well as anything else in the room. The area is scheduled for our use from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. the last Saturday of every month. We may however use the room beyond 8:00 p.m. the store closes at 10:00p.m. and no one is scheduled to use My fellow members: it after us. We can play games watch movies or what ever we want. Please join me in welcoming Ron Novak, as the All are welcome and encouraged to attend. new Director of the School of Recruiting within Location; the Starfleet Academy. Ron joins us after a Acme Fresh Market #14 successful tour with the Region One Recruiting 3235 Manchester Rd. Office, and has many ideas and plans, as well Akron, Ohio 44319 as endless energy to serve in this role. Dates 7 Times The School of Recruiting can be reached at: July 31, 2004 5:00-8:00 p.m. http://academy.sfi.org/courses/recruit/index. August 28, 2004. 5:00-8:00 p.m. shtml September 25, 2004 5:00-8:00 p.m. October 30, 2004 5:00-8:00 p.m. And Ron can be reached at r1recruit- November 27, 2004 5:00-8:00 p.m. December 18, 2004 5:00-8:00 p.m.
To get to the Community room enter the store go to the service desk and then move to the back of the store it will be a little more than halfway back. Vol 3 Issue 3 The Fates STAR TREK STAR ILL Entertainment Galaxy
The actor who played Scotty in TV's Star July 6, 2004 - 1:28 AM Trek has Alzheimer's disease. Star Trek: Enterprise executive producer Rick Berman today said last season's cliffhanger will be resolved James Doohan, 84, also has Parkinson's dis- within the first few episodes of season four. ease, diabetes, lung fibrosis and suffered a bout of pneumonia. "We've already mapped out the first six or seven epi- sodes, in a general sense," Berman said in issue 116 of His Wife Wende,47, said: "With Jimmy it's the Star Trek Magazine
Former Odyssey 5 writer Manny Coto, who joined the The movie centers on the world's most advanced Enterprise staff as co-executive producer last season, submarine, which is sent on a deep-sea salvage will take a more active role in the creative direction of the hunt and inadvertently brings aboard a predatory series. Coto has been working with Berman and execu- organism from the ocean floor, the trade paper re- tive producer Brannon Braga to map out these arcs, ported. which "will run two, three, maybe four episodes". Jon Jashni and Kevin Burns will produce, and Al- "We've got a couple of them that I think are going to len's widow, Sheila, will be executive producer. have some big surprises and things that will hearken back to perhaps The Original Series. We'll bring in some Allen created and directed Voyage to the Bottom of actors, and possibly some characters, that are very fa- the Sea, which starred Walter Pidgeon. Voyage was miliar to our audience." later turned into a 1960s ABC TV series, starring Richard Basehart and David Hedison, the trade To read the full interview, pick up issue 116 of Star Trek paper reported. Magazine Once again this year, Myself as R1 RDC Recruiting and the USS Renegade will be sponsoring a recruiting table at the Vulkon Convention in Independence, Ohio on August 13-15, 2004. As this convention is featuring William Shatner as its guest star on Saturday, it should be attracting quite a crowd of folks who are not members or are former members of STARFLEET, and from all over the state. Sci-fi fan gets Spock ears This is the perfect opportunity for us to gain members not only in 'Fleet, but in YOUR chapters! A sci-fi fan in China has had plastic surgery to give himself ears like Star Trek's Mr Spock. The young What I need: man astonished surgeons in Nanjing by telling them he wanted alien-like pointy ears. Bodies to man the table: If you are planning on going, you don't have to spend hours at the table ... He told them he was bored with the shape of his just an hour or so per day, what ever YOU want. Don't ears and wanted to make them a 'more interesting' have the money to attend?? If you are not far, or don't care about membership to the con, the table is shape. in a common area that you don't have to purchase a membership to work the table ... come join us and have Plastic surgeons tried to talk the man out of the idea some fun! You don't even need to stay in the con but he was adamant and the operation went ahead, hotel, there is about 4 or 5 other hotels in the same the Yangtze Evening News reported. area. If coming, bring your flyers for the table. Cosmetic surgery has boomed in popularity in China Flyers from YOUR chapter for the table: If you are in recent years but the operation in Nanjing is be- not attending for one reason or another, send me a flyer or even a stack of them!! We will be asking where folks are from, and letting them take the flyers 2004 Hallmark Ornaments they wish to take. Send me some, I guarantee they * ST Enterprise - Commander Tucker ($14.95) will disappear and hopefully, you will get some calls. * ST Enterprise - Vulcan Command Ship ($28.00) Anyone wanting more info, please feel free to email me * STTOS - City on the Edge of Forever ($28.00) at [email protected] * ST Insignias [3 miniature emblems] ($12.95) And while I am at it, if any of you have a recruiting officer that you would like to put in touch with me, * Star Wars: A New Hope - Star Destroyer and Block- pass them my email addy. ade Runner ($28.00) Hope to hear from you soon, * Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - Anakin Skywalker ($14.95) Captain Ron Novak * 8th in the classic Star Wars series - Chewbacca and C-3PO ($14.95) ===== Captain Ron Novak * Star Wars: A New Hope [ornament looks like a Regional Division Chief, Recruiting poster] ($19.95) Region One .... The First Fleet [email protected] * Frodo Baggins ($14.95) Vol 3 Issue 3 July 2004 The Fates alien hardware. Before long, Weir and astrophysicist Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett, reprising his "SG-1" role) discover that the portal leads to the fabled lost city of Atlantis, which, as it turns out, is in the Pegasus Galaxy (in the "Stargate" universe, most myths have alien origins). Reckoning they have enough power for a one-way trip, Weir assembles a team of military personnel and scientists STARGATE ATLANTIS to explore the city. The military contingent includes two pilots, Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), who has a f an actor can't stand the color green, he or she genetic ability to interface with the alien technology (and should avoid working in science fiction. Similarly, a problem with authority), and the eager Lt. Aiden Ford aversions to feeling silly, reacting to nothing, or (Rainbow Sun Francks). Their commander is Col. Marshall being stuffed in cramped spaces for many hours Sumner (guest star Robert Patrick), who isn't nuts about are not conducive to a career in that genre. answering to the civilian Weir - who has bigger problems than Sumner's ego. "I've been in the puddle-jumper all day," "Stargate Atlantis" star Rachel Luttrell says. "I'm well- "Right now," Higginson says, "Weir is so excited and acquainted with the puddle-jumper." overwhelmed at this opportunity. Eight months ago, she didn't know Stargates existed, so this is brand new to her. Luttrell -- whose character, Teyla, is a human from She learns that aliens exist, and now she's having a con- a world in a distant galaxy -- has been cooped up versation with them. in the tight confines of a set that looks like a small spaceship, doing seemingly endless takes of battle "It's a huge mental leap. I'm having a hard time doing it in scenes against the ships of evil, rapacious crea- television, I can't imagine doing it in real life." tures called Wraiths, represented by dots on a green-screen background. Once arriving at Atlantis -- a sleek set that combines Frank Lloyd Wright elements into a sort of "Alien Deco" - In fact, when "Stargate Atlantis" premieres with a - Weir and her team learn that Atlantis, which has been two-hour episode on Friday, July 16, on Sci-Fi slumbering for eons, is not quite equipped to handle the Channel, there won't be anything reminiscent of visitors. So, exploration begins immediately for fresh the planet Earth. That is, except for pine trees, the sources of power. inevitable consequence of shooting in the forests around Vancouver, Canada. "'Atlantis' does not take place underwater," says execu- tive producer-writer Brad Wright, who also works on "SG- For seven seasons now (No. 8 started last week), 1." "However, to find the city of Atlantis, it is underwater. Sci-Fi's "Stargate SG-1" has been using ancient alien portals to send American military teams "We made up our own Atlantean mythology. If it's based through wormholes onto distant worlds -- but al- on anything, it's based on the mythology we created in ways returning back to a base on Earth. "Atlantis" the 'Stargate' universe, of the Ancients. So Atlantis was a begins on Earth then goes far, far away. city of the Ancients. When we find it, it's pristine and un- touched." In the opening episode, "SG-1" regulars Gen. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and archaeolo- The team's first mission brings it into conflict with the gist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) head down pasty, insatiable Wraiths. These galactic baddies with to Antarctica to help diplomat Dr. Elizabeth Weir serious dental issues hear about Earth and immediately (Torri Higginson, replacing Jessica Steen, who start thinking of it as an all-you-can-eat buffet. played Dr. Weir last season on "SG-1") explore a newly discovered portal and some superpowerful Vol 3 Issue 3 July 2004 The Fates But Earth likely can rest easy for a little while, because, DR. ELIZABETH WEIR Played by Torri Higgin- for practical and story reasons, Wright intends to keep son the "Atlantis " crew off in the Pegasus Galaxy for at least the show's first season, during which "SG-1" will play out Attractive, brilliant, but not one to seek the its eighth and supposedly final season (but never say spotlight, Dr. Weir has worked behind the never). scenes in the U.S. government for several years. Though she's not the one who signs "We fully expect to find our way back to Earth," Wright treaties, she has brokered a dozen of the says. "We want that door open." most sensitive international accords in mod- Along with the mythology, "Atlantis" keeps the storytel- ern history. She has two Ph.D.s, teaches po- ling style of "SG-1," which includes saving the galaxy litical science at Georgetown University, has one wisecrack at a time. It's a tradition that began in the served in embassies all over the world and original "StarGate" movie in 1994, with Kurt Russell as a speaks five languages. Though she began her cranky O'Neil, and continued with Anderson's droll, non- career as a political activist lobbying against plussed O'Neill in the TV version. government spending on the military, she later decided the best way to stop weapons prolif- In "Atlantis," the humor comes from the comedy duo of McKay and Scotsman Dr. Beckett (Paul McGillion), who eration was to end the need for them. Placed can be counted upon to bounce one-liners off each other. in charge of Stargate Command by President Henry Hayes, she has now been asked to And one never knows, McKay just might wind up also being the romantic hero of the piece. "I'm not saying there's no romance in 'Atlantis,'" Wright says, "I'm just saying that we're not starting off with pre- sumptions about romances that are going to take place between our core characters. But I think that McKay, se- cretly or not so secretly, believes that all women want to be with him." MAJOR JOHN SHEPPARD. Played by Joe Flanigan Cobra, Apache, Sea King, Black Hawk, Osprey, Sea Harrier — you name it, he's flown it. The son of a respected Cold War colonel, Shepherd, while on duty in Afghanistan, disobeyed a direct order in an attempt to save the lives of three service- men. His reputation tarnished, he yet remains a man of honor who puts the military first, while still mistrusting authority. When tapped to serve on the Stargate Atlantis team, he is at the end of his second tour at McMurdo, the U.S. Antarctic base, having requested a post as far from the world as possible. He gets to go an entire galaxy away when it's discovered that he is one of the very few humans possessing the gene allowing mental interaction with the mysterious technol- ogy of the Ancients, creators of the Stargates. Vol 3 Issue 3 July 2004 The Fates DR. RODNEY MCKAY PLAYED BY - David Hewlett A brilliant and arrogant astrophysicist, Dr. McKay has worked with Samantha Car- ter (his intellectual nemesis, but also the object of his affections) on two separate occusions: once when Teal'c's pattern was trapped within the Stargate's memory ("48 Hours"), and again when an assault on the gate by Anubis caused its eventual destruction, which nearly destroyed Earth ("Redemption"). McKay is probably be- tween 35 and 40 years old, and along with Major Carter is recognized as one of the LIEUTENANT AIDEN FORD PLAYED BY - Rainbow Sun Francks Boyishly good-looking, with an ebullient sense of humor to match, this 25- year-old is an officer who volunteers for the Atlantis mission. A good man in a tight spot, he accompanies Major Sheppard on a perilous rescue mission to the Wraith planet, where unspeakable terrors lurk. He keeps a cool head and his finger on the trigger when the Wraiths are closing in on the rescue party. TEYLA EMMAGAN PLAYED BY - Rachel Luttrell A beautiful and soulful woman between 20 and 25 years old, she is a native of the post-apocalyptic alien world viewers will encounter in the initial epi- sode, and has lost most of her family to the Wraith. Despite her youth, she has become somewhat of a leader to her people. Initially seen as a love in- terest for Sheppard, she joins our team's effort to defeat our common enemy in the Wraith and their budding romance becomes playful sexual tension as they focus on their mission. She proves herself early on to be a surprisingly scrappy fighter, a survivor under any circumstances and an invaluable source of knowledge about the people and worlds the team will be visiting. Vol 3 Issue 3 July 2004 The Fates UNIVERSE from www.gateworld.net Just what the Stargate Atlantis universe will look like, and how it will differ from its predecessor? Beware of spoilers for the new series below -- especially the premiere episode, "Rising", as well as for SG-1's Season Seven finale! THE TECH. A team of scientists has been pouring over the Ancients' Antarctic outpost since SG-1 discov- ered it buried a mile beneath the ice in "The Lost City," and have learned that only people with a very rare gene are able to operate the intuitive technology found there -- one person in 16,000, to be exact. Dr. Rodney McKay is a brilliant scientist who works to interface Earth technology with that of the Ancients, but is frus- trated by the fact that he himself does not possess the gene. Another of the scientists, however -- Dr. Beck- ett -- does possess the gene and accidentally launches an Ancient attack drone from the outpost. They also quickly learn that Major Sheppard has the gene; the ability to use the Ancients' tech will come in very handy when the team reaches the lost city of Atlantis in the distant Pegasus galaxy. Vital to the operation of the city (and to the team's ability to gate to another galaxy ) is the Z.P.M., an Ancient power module that was probably the basis for the device O'Neill constructed in "The Fifth Race" while under the influence of the Ancients' library of knowledge. Atlantis is powered by three of the devices. As hoped, the lost city is indeed a treasure trove of advanced technology, which includes such things as a universal translation device. Each team member travelling off-world receives one, which is capable of instantly translating virtually any language encountered. THE SHIPS. As an accomplished pilot, Sheppard is particularly interested in a bay of Ancient ships discovered in Atlantis. The ship of choice is nicknamed "Puddle Jumper," as it is designed to travel through the Stargate. In fact, the ship has a miniature dialing device on the main console, allowing remote-access dialing of the Star- gate. It is also equipped with stealth mode, allowing it to become invisible. The ship seems to operate in part by reading the pilot's thoughts. The jumper is large enough to seat at least two at the forward controls, and at least six in the rear. The Wraith Dart is a small, maneuverable ship capable of gate travel. It is described as oily black, sharply pointed and with a glowing underside. The Wraith planet has a Stargate in orbit, indicating that it's rather com- mon to travel the Stargate network by ship in this part of the universe. ATLANTIS. The lost city of the Ancients is an island unto itself, surrounded by a vast body of water on the surface of a planet in the Pegasus galaxy. It has been abandoned by the Ancients but left in perfect condition, and the team from Earth must begin the task of exploring it. Atlantis is equipped with a powerful energy shield, which is vital to protecting the new base of operations from enemy attack. Within the city is a Stargate -- but one unlike any previously seen. THE STARGATE. The chevrons are blue on the Atlantis gate the symbols themselves are different in this gal- axy. Instead of physically spinning, the inner track spins in a pattern of light. The brightly-lit symbols also ro- tate around much faster than Earth's gate. The team accesses the gate's control systems along with a new library of addresses, most of which are pre- sumably for the Pegasus galaxy's gate network. After dialing another world, the tried-and-true system of M.A. L.P. probes and G.D.O. transmitters are still used. At the touch of a button, the gate may be protected by an iris -like energy shield. THE WRAITH. They are the enemy that defeated the Ancients themselves long ago. The Wraith are a hive- based species with a queen, and horrifically feed off the life force of other beings. They maintain a thousand worlds populated by beings used for food. The Wraith are described as having pale green-tinged skin and USS Liberator P.O. Box 13075 Akron, OH 44334