Admirals Log, Stardate um, yeah, well, letsee its oh,

forget it! Computer, just plug in the Stardate later! Sheesh,

like I dont have enough to remember as it is

Now, where was I oh, yes Welcome to a Very Special
Issue of Trekkie Central!! Whats so Special about this
issue? Well, because I said so! Youre not buying that
are you..? Okay then, because in this Very Special
Issue (no, its not really trademarked, I just threw
that in for giggles) of Trekkie Central, youll be reading
great interviews with Brandon McConnell, who plays
the third Ro Nevin in the HF spin-off series ST Odyssey;
one of my person favs Miss Rebecca Wood, and her
many roles in HF productions; Heather Ashleigh, aka
Dr. Henglaars niece Silan and lately as Kristen Laws
onboard the USS Odyssey, as well as an interview
with Bobby Rice about his latest fan film exploits
and CGI artist Philip Hogg, plus lots more info!
Woohoo!

What else will you be reading? Oh, Im sure youre
all interested in some fan fiction, right? Good! Cause
we got that too! I dont know if you know this or not,
but, Trekkie Central is sure making me once again
enjoy and appreciate my Trek addiction, because
Richard just crams so much into each issue, its
amazing! (Psst! My check should contain a couple
extra zeros for that last bit, right Richard?!?!)
Anyhoo, Im honored once again to write for this
magazine, so I truly hope you enjoy whats inside
oh, heck, I know you will! So what are you waiting
for? Get to reading!

Oh, yeah, if you werent already aware, Hidden Frontier
Productions' third annual Excelsior Ball
(www.excelsiorball.com) will be held June 6-8, 2008 in
Los Angeles, CA at the LAX Radisson Hotel. Hope youre
planning on attending! Its sure to be a BLAST! Yeah, I
know, not-so-shameless-plug, but, hey, Richard did say I
could!


Jenn
aka: Jennifer Cole
Hidden Frontier Producer


Ro Nevin Mark II
An Interview with Bobby Rice

A rare and exclusive interview

6


Ro Nevin Mark III
An Interview with Brandon McConnell

A special joint interview between
Trekkie Central and Trekweb

10


The Evolution of Ro Nevin
A Look at the Growth of the Character

By Alex Matthews

14


Silan The Troubled Tellarite
An Interview with Heather Ashleigh

22


Excelsior Ball III
A Galaxy-Class Get-Together

By Alex Matthews

26


BetrasMcfarland
An Interview with Rebecca Wood

28


Fan Fiction
Sirens Nebulae

An extract from an
exclusive piece of Fan Fiction

By Michael Ford

32


Bringing Star Trek to Life
An Interview with CGI Artist
Philip Hogg

36


Captains Log
By Heather Ashleigh

39


Coming Next Issue

40

TREKKIE CENTRAL MAGAZINE
TALKS TO THE SECOND RO
NEVIN, BOBBY RICE, ON
WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE ON
HIDDEN FRONTIER, HIS
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND
MORE.

TC: How familiar were you with the Star
Trek phenomenon before you got
involved with Hidden Frontier?

BR: Not very. I've always been a big sci-fi
fan but prior to Hidden Frontier did not
have a lot of Trek knowledge. As a kid
when Next Gen started it was like MASH
coming on, a message from the TV Gods
that cartoons were over and it was time
to go to bed. I actually enjoy the show
now. When I came aboard HF I did some
research and got into the show,
especially the original series.

TC: How did you get involved with
Hidden Frontier?

BR: HF was my first real audition and
booked role in California. The casting
listing was under the TV section of
nowcasting.com as a star trek Internet
show. Curious, I submitted and
was called in for an audition. When I
wound up in Pasadena in front of a pretty
little yellow house I thought I was either
in the wrong place or walking into a "to
catch a predator" situation. I came in,
read, met some wonderful people and
about four days later I got a call and was
offered the role. My friends got a kick
out of seeing me with a big gun, uniform,
and Bajoran nose as the new kid on the
website. I remember hearing "dude
thats gona be someones wallpaper"!
Smiling it off I didn't understand the
enormity or commitment of Trek fans.

TC: Your character is one of the first gay
characters in Star Trek, what do you think
of that, and what do you think of the
controversy that it caused with some
fans?

BR: I was asked if I would be comfortable
playing a gay character. I really didn't
have a problem with it, I was told it was a
sub plot in the series and given a bit of
background into the relationship
between Ro and Cory. From what I
understand the controversy was
minimal. There were some people who
did not like the idea of incorporating gay
themes into Trek. But for the most part
the people opposed where respectful in
their opinions, apart from a couple bad
apples. The majority of fans understand
that everyone; whether black, white, gay,
straight, Chinese, Canadian, "or even a
woman" has a place together
in the future.
"Or even a woman" a quote from Fry,
Futurama, episode: Where no fan has gone
before. See, I told you guys I'm a geek!

TC: You were the second person to play Ro
Nevin, after Arthur Bosserman; did you ever
look back at any of the episodes that he was
in before or whilst you were playing Ro?

BR: Yeah I wanted to see Arthurs character. I
wanted the change of actor to be as smooth
as possible. He played the character
wonderfully sweet, kinda geeky, and
restrained by a number of personal
issues...his sexuality, religion, family, role. I
tried to apply that to what I did with Ro. But I
had the opportunity to explore Ro's internal
struggles more so than Arthur, and I think the
character really grew into something bigger.
I have to credit Rob and the writing team for
that. Obviously, Ro stepped up big enough to
land the lead in his own series.

TC: What was your favourite episode of
Hidden Frontier?

BR: Well, clearly the best episodes are the Ro
heavy episodes. Pardon myself delusions :).
I'm not sure the episode but I remember the
scene. I think it was a well written and nicely
played by JT. Ro comes into a bar and
confesses his feelings for Corey, as it turns
out he is in some kind of holo-deck. The
segment allowed us to see Ro take a few
more steps toward where the character was
inevitable going to go, because it was not
really happening. It was like seeing in live
action something you might secretively write
in a diary.

TC: In the final scenes of Hidden Frontier
there was the wedding scene, what was it like
to film that scene?

BR: Oh the wedding scene. The surroundings
were beautiful. It actually was a really nice
day; following filming was the start of the
Excelsior ball. Admirably put together by the
bajoran minister Andrew Foster. The guests
at the wedding were
made up of fans and they were
so happy to be there and
help make this happen.
A theme that
seems to
resonate

with all the trek projects I have had the
privilege to be affiliated with. JT and I had a
lot of fun together during the shot. There's
a segment without dialog after the "I Do's"
where Ro and Cory walk around thanking
various guest. Since there was nothing
heard on film I would say things like "thank
you for coming, were off to have some gay
sex"! Crazy stuff just to make us laugh.
Looks like were all sharing a good laugh on
camera, and we were. We had fun, it was a
great day.

TC: And do you think that it was a fitting
ending to the Ro-Aster storyline in Hidden
Frontier?

BR: 70/30. I do like that Ro ended up with
Cory. I do like that Ro came to terms with
himself. However; I think that Adam's
character could have ended up with Cory as
well. I think he had just as much right to a
happy ending as Ro did. I don't know if it
was my favorite ending, but it was the right
ending. Plus, it gave way to HF's spin offs.
Kinda like the end of Return of the Jedi,
dancing around with a bunch of Ewoks. I
like the ending...it makes me happy...its
satisfying, but could have gone many
different ways and I probably would still be
satisfied. I'm not making any sense am I?
I'm gona make a sandwich....

TC: You played Ro in the first episode of
Odyssey, what was it like being the lead of
your own show?

There certainly was a sense that the scale of
the project was larger. We were going to
do new things, and expand on what HF did
in the past. I love the pilot; I think it's really
cool. Ro found himself in new pants, and
had to grow to fit into them. It was more
work but very rewarding and a nice
responsibility having the lead role.
When HF ended I got an email from
Mr. Caves saying that he'd love
to have me in new projects as
long as I want, and he
understood I wouldn't
be around forever.
It was great
working


with all these devoted and kind people,
but if I was going to get out the character
switch being too 'weird' it was time. It
was either after the pilot or after a
couple of episodes and I thought it better
for the show if the series kicked off with
the new Ro.

TC: And have you watched any of the
episodes since Brandon McConnell took
over?

BR: I've watched a scene with Brandon to
calm my curiosity. I liked what I saw. He
seemed to have good pacing and
presence, but that's all I've seen. I wish
him all the best and hope he has as good
of time as I did. They have a good team
over there. Funny; I just read an
interview with him on-line. I didn't even
put it together that he auditioned for the
role of Alex Freeman. Again, small Trek
world. That's how NV got there new
Spock too, that particular casting.

TC: You are currently starring as Peter
Kirk in Star Trek Phase 2, how did you get
the part?

BR: James Cawley saw me in HF and liked
what I did with the character. He
contacted me and asked if I would be
interested in doing a Trek series based
out of New York. I didn't know much
about it but thought what the hell. The
idea all along was for me to play Peter
Kirk, but the merging of David Gerrolds
script and New Voyages hadn't happened
yet. Now both James and David are very
good friends of mine, I consider myself
very lucky.

TC: Can you tell us a bit about the
character?

BR: Remember Peter is still a Kirk,
whether he likes it or not. So he is
ultimately somewhat like his uncle.
Obviously James is an intergalactic ladies
man and Peter prefers the opposite.
There is a sense of resentment on Peters
behalf from the fact that his uncle can
seemingly save anyone and come thru
just in time for anybody except his
parents. Coming aboard the Enterprise
was not his choice for sure, and he is
always looking to prove that he is a
good officer despite being
little Kirk. One of my
favorite



moments in BAF is when Peter mocks
his uncle to a fellow crew member. My
intention was to mimic Cawley with
splashes of a Kevin Pollack-like Shatner
impersonation. Thank you Mr. Gerrold
for that!

TC: You are also due to star in Star Trek
First Voyages, can you tell us a bit about
it and how that show is going to
interact with Phase 2?

BR: Not sure yet. To be honest I
havent read anything, but I do hear I'll
get something soon. I do know that
BAF starts incorporating some Phase II
wardrobes, weapons, and 70s ish hippie
hair. (if you've seen Peter). Wish I had
more to share about first voyages but
the team is working hard to get it to the
standard that the New Voyages team
has set. I''m sure it will be great.

TC: You belong to an improv group
could you tell us a bit about it, and
what improv is?


BR: Its very fun. Some of the most
talented and intelligent people I have
ever met are improvisers. It goes
deeper than one might think. Our job is
to explore the suggestion given by the
audience, and then depending on the
form, let it inspire us to visit different
themes with honest human reaction.
The funny is in the Truth of everyday
human interaction. Do I sound
pretentious yet? I have seen some
incredible hour long shows with just
three dudes having fun on stage. They
don't do different segments and silly
things like "whose line", but find
themselves as real people in a practical
situations and it is funny as hell. Right
now I'm not playing but I'm gearing up
to start a three person show in a
month. Improv is great from everyone.
I highly suggest I.O. West in Hollywood
and/or Chicago. Check out iowest.com
for class info. I'll never forget one of my
instructors Craig Cackowski saying
"Everything in Improv is the perfect
thing to happen because its the only
thing to happen". I try to apply that
philosophy to more than improv in my
life.


TC: Are there any other projects that
you are working on that you can tell us
about?

BR: alljackedupmovie.com has the teen
focused documentary I hosted. I did a
segment for MANswers that aired last
fall, and recently played the role of
Richie on season 2 on the Lair for HERE
tv. You can also catch me at various
auditions, selling stolen hub caps on
the corner of 4th and Glenaoks at 9
p.m., and using the change in my
pocket to get some tacos at Dell Taco
after I type this, my sandwich
sucks.....................................................



IN A JOINT INTERVIEW
BETWEEN TCM AND
TREKWEB, WE TALK TO
BRANDON McCONNELL
ON LIFE IN THE
ANDROMEDA GALAXY.


TC: How familiar were you with the Star Trek phenomenon before you got involved with Star Trek
Odyssey ?
BM: I grew up on TNG with my mother, it was just her and I growing up and we'd spend our nights
around the tube watching. My affinity for Star Trek never grew much after that, but now that I've got
a
ship to command I'm learning just how expansive the Trek-universe is, and my curiosity and
amazement continues to swell. Much like that of a StarFleet Captain in his/her search for discovery, I
suppose. :)

TC: How did you get involved with this Star Trek fan production ?

BM: Lol, good question. :) I responded to a casting call for James Cawley, regarding Star Trek: New
Voyages, where, as fate would have it, I auditioned with Bobby Rice as his love interest in "Blood and
Fire."
I was auditioned by J.T. Tenapa (Corey Aster), however at this point I had no idea of Hidden Frontier. I was
offered the part by Mr. Cawley but, for one reason or another, we never connected again. Months later
(maybe a year?), I received an invitation from J.T. and Rob Caves to audition for a different character, Ro
Nevin. Apparently, after sorting through many actors to fill the role, J.T. vaguely recalled our meeting and
decided to give me a shot. The rest is history I suppose. It wasn't until recently though that I realized Bobby
and I had not only crossed paths but shared a scene, ironic. Hmmmm, wonder where that audition tape is?

TC: Describe the character of Ro Nevin for us.

BM: Ro Nevin has become a man that must constantly define his worth to himself. He is selfless and
romantic. Charming and courageous. But he is not the go-to hero as Kirk was. His spotlight does not shine
on his prime but rather on his definition. He is raw and unpolished, unsure and reluctant. Afraid and
worried, burdened with an unwanted weight, but it is his triumph over these things that will make him
worthy of notoriety. He is not a captain, but a captain in the making. He is nave, yet knows a truth in purity.
He is emotional, but thinks it unprofessional. He is twisted in conflict between duty and desire. He is loyal
and he is determined.

TC: What dynamics, as an actor, have you brought to the role of Ro Nevin?

BM: Hopefully that of what any actor would, truth, depth and compassion.

TC: The storylines seem very challenging to act (from a non actor), are you enjoying the challenge that
Rob and his team set when writing for Odyssey?

BM: Absolutely. Rob and writers do not settle for anything. As fans they take the writing seriously and we
have a great series to show for it. Some fans have made known their angst for the apprehension of Ro in
his situation tho, citing this as a weakness in the show. Ros inhibitions are intentional, it is not a weakness
in the show, but a character flaw he must overcome.

TC: You are playing the first gay captain in Star Trek history, a somewhat controversial subject among the
fans. What is your opinion on this?

BM: It is my understanding that in the 24th century there is no gay or straight, only love and connection
between two beings. I think that is something we can all learn from. However, to address today's social
atmosphere, I would have to make two points. First, to the fans of Star Trek that disagree with the
endeavor, I would have to insist that negating or condemning the issue would be contrary to what ST
represents and seeks to achieve; understanding through exploration. ST has always tackled controversial
issues through its allegorical episodes and utopian perspective. I am not attempting to debate ones
personal beliefs but if the final frontier represents the unknown, how are we to judge it without
understanding it first. Secondly, I do not believe my portrayal of Ro Nevin as a gay character, to be for the
sake of a particular audience or a gregarious attempt for a minority to be heard. At the core of Ro lies the
same conflict of any young man, gay or straight; a boy struggling to realize it is time to be a man and to be
the man that is true to himself.

TC: Star Trek deals with a lot of modern issues, do you think that this is also true of Odyssey?

BM: Yes, in a very clever way. Odyssey is based on Homers epic and yet is set in a fictitious future, however
the adaptation and fusion of these genres (again owed to the creativity of Rob Caves and the writers,
namely Eric Weaver) provide an allegorical canvas for todays issues as well as timeless struggles. Themes
like acceptance, hope, and survival. While characters also get to personally explore quandaries with
compromise and disparity, desperation and trust, vengeance and arbitration.



























TC: Ro has had a lot to deal with since the Odyssey was left stranded in the Andromeda Galaxy, how
do you think that he has coped with the pressure?

BM: If Ros faade is picture perfect, his interior is Jackson Pollocks finest work. Everyday there is a
steady build up of more anxiety, insecurity, and frustration. Ro is operating as what he thinks a captain
is supposed to be; therefore hiding his unrest. But the restraint is dangerous and may become too much
to control. I believe the release will be a great transition in the command of Ro Nevin. The question is,
when and where will the balloon pop?

TC: Did you know about Hidden Frontier and Odyssey before being cast in the show?

BM: No I did not. It was HF that opened the doors to fandom with a camera to me.

TC: Are you surprised by the level of fandom for the show?

BM: Can you expect anything else? Hidden Frontier provides an entertainment that gives fans a
opportunity to unify. How great is that!

TC: You are the third actor to play this role. Have you gone back and looked at the old episodes with
your predecessors, actors Arthur Bosserman and Bobby Rice?

BM: I've watched a few episodes for the storyline but not to critique my predecessors. I have my own
interpretation of Ro at this point in his life and intend not to falter in portraying that. While I hope that
my intentions please the fans and critics, I have to be true myself and to the character as I (and the writers)
see him. Someone in the forums commented that Ro gets a new face every time he faces a dramatic
change in his life... I think this is fate at work. :)




































TC: In future episodes how would you like to see the character of Ro Nevin grow?

BM: As mentioned before, I would like to see Ros release. I would also like to see him come into his own
and be the captain that is inside him. However, I would find it very interesting to see him
overcompensating. What if Ro became too commanding? What if his insecurity produced arrogance
instead of timidity? What if he constantly let out his frustration? How would the crew respond? Could
they bring him back? The magnificent amount of stress Ro Nevin endures could drive a man to do
anything. I guess well just have to wait and see.

TC: What surprises can we expect in future episodes of Odyssey? Can you reveal something?

BM: Hahahaha..... hmmmm...lets see, Odyssey will be nothing short of spectacular! This isn't just a ship
and crew trying to get home... there is a reason why Odyssey is lost in Andromeda. Poor guys, things are
gonna get a lot worse before they get better.

TC: What are you future projects?

BM: I'm a carpenter during the day, so there are always upcoming projects. :) Been shooting a few
commercials lately and will be performing a new show with my sketch comedy group Easily Distracted in
the coming months. Check us out at www.myspace.com/easilydistractedsketchcomedy






















IN AN EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE, ALEX
MATTHEWS EXAMINES THE
GROWTH OF RO NEVIN, FROM
THE UNSURE ENSIGN IN THE
ENEMY UNKNOWN RIGHT
THROUGH TO THE LATEST
ODYSSEY EPISODE VILE GODS.










When Hidden Frontier started and picked up from where Tales of the
Angeles series, Rob Caves took several of the characters from his
previous fan series, and added in quite a few newer characters, bringing
in new actors and friends to take on those roles and flesh out the
character he had envisioned. One of those characters was a young
Bajoran science officer, Ro Nevin, a recent graduate of Starfleet Academy
like many of the new crew assigned to the starship that is the main focus
of the series, the Galaxy-class dreadnought, USS Excelsior.
Nevin was a tip of the hat character to another Bajoran member of
Starfleet that had served on the USS Enterprise during the run of TNG,
Ensign Ro Laren. This Ensign Ro, portrayed by Michelle Forbes,
proved to be quite a fan favourite and was originally intended to
cross over to DS9, until Forbes declined. This lead to her character
betraying Starfleet and joining the Maquis in the penultimate
episode of TNG, and Forbes even approached later on about
appearing in Voyager, another offer she declined.

So when Ro Nevin debuted alongside many of the other new
characters who premiered in Hidden Frontier's premiere
3-part episode, Enemy Unknown, he already had some
back-story in place that was quickly explained, as the
overachieving younger brother of the former Starfleet
officer turned Maquis soldier. Arthur Bosserman took on
this role with quiet youthful enthusiasm, bringing life to
the young man who felt he had to make up for his sister's
poor record of Starfleet service.

For the majority of the first couple of seasons, like many
of the junior officers, despite his established back-story,
Ro was not really developed beyond his role on the
bridge, aside from a couple of scenes in 10-Forward with
his close friends, Brad Rawlins, Excelsior's chief
communications officer, and Andrew Barrett, the chief
operations officer. As can happen with an ensemble
show, some characters were prioritised over others, so
Ro Nevin was relegated to supporting status, his science
officer role usually being to deliver the necessary
technobabble needed to keep the story-lines grounded
in a sense of sci-fi realism. One episode that broke that
mold was the 2
nd
season episode Encke, which was
the beginning of a journey for Hidden Frontier in general,
which took the series in a whole new way beyond the
other 'canon' shows. In the episode, Ro is reunited with
another Academy acquaintance, Ensign Corey Aster, a
young man with obviously strong feelings for the Bajoran
officer. Unfortunately, due to his traditional upbringing
and religious precepts, Nevin finds himself very
uncomfortable with the idea that a man has feelings for
him, as well as the fact that he recognises that he does
have feelings for Aster himself. Because of the clash of his
heart versus his head, he ultimately rejects Aster's romantic
approach, although the two do reaffirm their friendship
before Aster leaves at the end of the episode.

For the remainder of the 2
nd
season, and the beginning of the
3
rd
season, Ro switches back to a supporting character to
reinforce the story-lines that the other characters face, as the
Hidden Frontier universe deals with imminent attacks by their
main enemy at the time, the Grey, and the promotion of Captain
Knapp to Commodore and command of DS12, while Commander
Shelby assumes command of the Excelsior. But then, Rob Caves,
having had a plan with Nevin from the very beginning of his creation,
made the decision to bring back Corey Aster as a regular guest star
to the series, and in the 3
rd
season episode, In Memory Of..., Aster
transfers to the Excelsior as their new assistant chief engineer. From
that point onwards, we begin to see a side of Nevin only glimpsed at
during Encke. Instead of simply supporting the story-lines of others, Ro


Nevin is given his own continuous story arc that would carry on throughout
the rest of the series and into Hidden Frontier's sister shows.

The Will They, Won't They? Arc...

The arrival of Corey Aster aboard the Excelsior is the beginning of a
journey for Ro that had seemingly stopped by the end of Encke.
When he had bid Aster farewell, they had parted as friends, since Ro
had made it clear that he was not interested in pursuing a
relationship with another man. But now that the man who clearly
has feelings for him is now assigned to the same starship, Ro
realises that this is something he cannot ignore, despite his best
efforts. Every time Ro appears in an episode, even if he is
acting in his official role as Chief Science Officer, some small
part of the episode is given over to the Ro/Corey dynamic. In
'Modus Operandi', he admits to Lieutenant McCabe he has
been avoiding Engineering since Aster transferred aboard,
something McCabe takes in his stride. Since McCabe was
also in the same Academy class as Ro and Aster, he may
very well have been aware of the situation before his
own transfer to Excelsior, and covers for Ro by visiting
Engineering for him, when the need arises.

It is not until Ashes, 2 episodes later, that Ro is left
with no choice but to confront both his trepidation
and Aster when Lefler personally asks for his help on a
project. During the course of the episode, just as in
Encke, the two are assigned to examine a problem
in detail, and working closely together becomes
uncomfortable for both of them, despite Aster's
efforts to keep things friendly. Ro has difficulty
finding a way to balance his own wants with the
traditions he was raised in, even admitting to a
friend he is attracted to Aster, but unsure how to
deal with it. However, he does admit to Aster that
he wants to find his own path in life, and does want
to continue the friendship that they had began to
forge between them in Encke. The friendship and
the growing comfortable atmosphere between them
is demonstrated at the end of Ashes as well as in
the following episode, Voyages of the Defiant,
when they are seen working together to refit the
Constitution-class starship of the title to working
condition.
With the growing plot involving the tetrahedrons and
the Tholians, Ro and his relationship with Aster takes
a back seat until the 4
th
episodes of the 4
th
season,
Grave Matters, in which Ro finds himself in conflict
with Aster. This is due to the fact that, after being
temporarily assigned to another starship, Aster finds
himself growing close to a Cardassian scientist involved
in the mission as well. Ro sees this as a betrayal of sorts,
especially since the Cardassians stand accused of
murdering thousands of Bajoran refugees on a planet
near the Briar Patch, including his grandfather. Aster
confronts him, however, reminding him that their own
relationship, despite their best efforts, has become
undefined, and he has no real place to object to anything
that may or may not happen. Aster does enter into a brief
relationship with the officer, before his untimely death, and it
is Ro that comforts him, as well as learning a lesson regarding
the fragile relationship between the Bajorans and Cardassians,
and just how far people can stray from their supposed path in
life.


The lesson that his grandfather was a collaborator with the Cardassians that
eventually killed him and the other refugees hit Ro hard, but he tried his best
to learn from it, although he does find himself drawing away from Aster.
Aware that another crewmember has expressed interest in the engineer, Ro
encourages Aster to pursue it if he is interested; that he should not allow
whatever that exists between the two of them to stop him from moving
on with his life. It is with this release of sorts that Aster does seem to
move on from his feelings for Ro, and enters into a relationship with
Ensign Jorian Zen, one of Excelsior's helmsmen.
But to say that Ro has put his own feelings and confusion behind him
would be incorrect...

Season Six and Beyond...

Throughout this time, Arthur Bosserman played the role as well
as he could, but as the finale of the 5
th
season approached,
Arthur announced his desire to leave, to pursue his interest in
music instead. This meant the role needed to recast, because
the character of Ro Nevin had not only had a lot of time
invested into it, but he was a firm fan favourite. The recasting
also opened up avenues that the script writers and story
creators had not been able to pursue with Arthur in the role.

Enter Bobby Quinn Rice, the 2
nd
actor to assume the role of
Ro Nevin. He brought a new side of Ro to life that Arthur
had not been able to do himself. While Arthur had
portrayed the initial discomfort and eventual friendship,
Bobby's willingness to take the character a new and
different way provided an awakening for the character.

This resulted on-screen with Ro entering into a
relationship with a Bajoran woman, Tara Abis, which,
despite his relationship with Jorian, caused a reaction
from Aster. Tara and Ro remained a couple for the
majority of the 6
th
season, but the relationship falls
apart when Ro finally admits to himself something he
had known for years, but had been afraid to admit - he
is in love with Corey Aster. Tara was a distraction, an
attempt to go down the path of someone his family
tradition demanded - a man of family. Although he cared
for Tara, Ro ultimately realised he had been lying to
himself as well as her, and to continue would bring more
hurtful in the long wrong. To her credit, Tara had begun
to figure out the puzzle herself, when she noticed how
relaxed and happy Ro would become in Aster's presence.
She is the one to end the relationship, walking out on Ro
after forcing him to admit to the both of them how he
really feels.

Unfortunately, his finally accepting the truth does not mean
much, since Aster still in a relationship with Jorian, and this
combined with the abduction of Andrew Barrett, results in
his work becoming affected. After he and McCabe are
ordered to 'get over it' by Shelby, they retreat to DS12, where
Nevin encounters a young Klingon officer, Nej'ta, for the first
time. Although the resulting conversation between them is
short, it would have a lasting effect on the Klingon officer.
Months later, the 2 are again reunited on DS12, where McCabe
forces Ro to admit he needs to get out and move on with his own
life, having been reclusive since his split with Tara. It is McCabe
who engineers Ro's first 'date' with Nej'ta, during which the
Klingon tells Ro he seems him as a kindred spirit, and invites him to
join in a Klingon ritual which will bond them together as warriors. A
somewhat stunned Ro agrees, showing just how much he has begun
to accept his own identity, and together they go through a series of
tests that when they pass,

acknowledges them as proud warriors. In the heat of the moment, the two]
embrace, leading to Nej'ta kissing the Bajoran passionately, and although
taken aback, he gives into the moment.
This first sexual experience for Ro is an eye opener, and it is an experience
he will never forget and one he is quick to thank McCabe for pushing him
into, realising it was something he needed to do. His relationship with
Nej'ta acts like a safety cord, helping him stay grounded while the war
with the Tholians and Breen rages throughout the Briar Patch, and is a
learning experience for him as well. When he and Aster accidentally
bump into each other on DS12, they engage in one of the most talks
they have had in their time together, when they both admit the
difficulties their relationships are under. He admits that despite
what his is feeling for the Klingon officer, he does not feel that
their relationship is 'special', and after finding that Aster is
having doubts about his relationship with Zen, Ro has one of
the boldest moments in his life, when he blatantly suggests an
assignation to Aster, which the engineer ultimately rejects,
despite strong temptation. This rejection pushes Ro back to
Nej'ta, perhaps due to Aster's own misgivings regarding the
Bajoran's relationship with the Klingon, but Nej'ta is there
to provide what Ro needs - comfort and
companionship.

Despite his claims that he indeed did have his own
doubts regarding his relationship with him, Ro is
devastated to learn of Nej'ta's death, openly
weeping over the body, and honouring his lover's
customs by performing the Klingon death cry with
McCabe. It may have been the loss of someone he
cared for that finally woke Ro up to the fact that
life is worth taking a few risks in order to get what
you heart wants. With the end of the relationship
between Aster and Zen during the final conflict
between the Federation and Tholian/Breen
alliance, Ro is finally able to openly pursue the
man he has been in love with since the Academy,
and this time he is able to win him. Although the
details of their relationship are unclear, what is
clear is that they do truly love each other and that
the many years they danced around each other
only strengthened the love they shared, as six
months after the Briar Patch dissolved, the two
Starfleet officers are married in a traditional
Bajoran ceremony on Ba'ku. The wedding is not
only a beautiful event, but a symbol of the inner
peace Ro has finally found after years of wrestling
with his own inner demons, finally admitting he is his
own person, living the way he knows is right for
him...



Separation Anxiety...
For the loving couple recently wed, what can be worse then being
torn apart by circumstances out of your control? That is now
exactly what Ro Nevin is facing, trapped in the Andromeda
galaxy, millions of light years from home, with no idea if his
husband is even alive. Just like Janeway in the early episodes
of Voyager, it his desire to be reunited with his partner that
is driving him as he finds himself thrust into a position of
command he did not want. He is more than aware that it
is his decisions that will keep the USS Odyssey intact, one
step ahead of an enemy they barely understand, as they
seek out resources and allies in this unknown sector of the
universe. What is more, we have a new actor bringing his
own interpretation, now that Bobby Rice has departed
the role, and the mantle and history being handed over
Brandon McConnell.
Like the departure of Arthur Bosserman allowed Ro to
be taken in a different direction, what changes will
come of Brandon's assuming the role? So far, we have
seen him portray Ro as he handles the constant
Archein attacks, as well as the growing dissent between
his Romulan acting Executive Officer and his stubborn
Betazoid chief of security, while also forging a tense
relationship with Kelvin renegades. He has brought a
quite confidence and ease to the role, while at the
same time, the vulnerability of a person who knows
they are deeply out of their element, making decisions
they never wanted to make.
One fact to remember is that the other Ro's have
always had Aster around in some form, while's
Brandon's Ro is completely isolated from his true love,
and will have to learn to live with that separation,
perhaps for a very long time. Will this affect him in
another way, perhaps willing to take risks he would
not normally, or perhaps swing the other way, being
cautious in order to stay safe?
What direction Brandon will take Ro, and the defining
relationship of this character, his relationship with
Corey Aster, eventually only time will tell...



SHE PLAYED SILAN IN
HIDDEN FRONTIER AND
NOW PLAYS KIRTSEN
LAWS ON ODYSSEY.
HEATHER ASHLEIGH
NOW TALKS TO TCM
ABOUT HIDDEN
FRONTIER AND BEYOND.

TC: When did you first discover Star
Trek?

HA: I first discovered Star Trek almost
2 years ago online. There was a
breakdown for the role of Silan on I
believe it was Now Casting. My mom
was actually the one who discovered
the role and told me about it. It was
pretty funny because we had no idea
what the show was. I had never even
HEARD of a Star Trek internet series
before, and the breakdown didn't say
specifically what the show was.
Anyway, my mom and I thought it
was an interesting role and project to
submit for so we did. Somewhere
between 2 days to a week after we
submitted for HF I get a call from
Jaytee Tepnapa telling me I have an
audition for the show. I go in, do my
audition and leave. Felt pretty good
about it. My instincts were right
because not 48 hours later I get a call
from Jaytee saying I booked the part!
I was really excited and very curious
to find out what I was getting into.

TC: How did you become involved
with Hidden Frontier?

HA: Okay, well without knowing it I
just answered two questions at
once! Haha...as I said before it was
through audition. And like I said
that was almost 2 years ago. It'll be
2 years in June actually.

TC: You played Doctor Henglaar's
niece on HF, what was it like
playing a Tellerite and what
characteristics did you have to keep
in mind when playing her?

HA: Yes, I was Henglaar's niece
Silan. And ok, I've NEVER played an
alien before, so for my first alien
ever to be a Tellerite, was just
awesome. And you have to keep in
mind that I walked into the show
knowing NOTHING! Not only about
HF itself, but about Star Trek in
general.
I was completely lost as
to what was going on in the
storyline, with the characters, and
so on. So at the beginning I was a bit
lost, but not so much now. Anyway, the
only thing I kept thinking to myself when
playing Silan was, ATTITUDE! If you've
seen the show you know Silan is NOT the
type of alien you wanna mess with! She'll
kick your ass to put it bluntly. When I
filmed my first episode I had martial arts
type of movements. Thankfully I'm a
dancer, and so the moves I did, and
continued to do, were very easy for me
to accomplish. So not only did I have the
thought of ATTITUDE on my mind the
entire time, I also had the characteristic
of Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the
Vampire Slayer. Buffy was always kicking
ass, and that's the character I compared
Silan to. And it worked right? Haha...I
mean, the on-running joke on set was
that I was the Tellerite Buffy!

TC: Did you enjoy playing her?

HA: Well, I think that was answered
before, but I'll
clarify......YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha. I
LOVED playing Silan! Not only did I get to
hang out with the most AWESOME
people on the weekends and have fun, I
got to play this character who was a
complete bad-ass and that's different
than what I usually play. It was a nice
change.

TC: Would you play her again if asked?

HA: In a freakin heartbeat!

TC: We mostly saw the character
shouting the odds at someone or
just in a bad mood, (except at the
end of the last episode of HF), would
you have liked to see other sides of
her or see her have a love interest?

HA: Haha, I don't think Silan would
have a love interest....I think she'd
kill him! You know, this is a hard
question for me to answer, because
as I said, the character I was playing
was different from the characters I
usually play. I usually play the
sweet innocent girl-next-door type.
And like I said, Silan was tough and
a bad-ass. So, as I said before it was
a nice change for me. Umm....but in
terms of the character showing
different sides, maybe more
vulnerability? Silan's background
and history is painful to her, and
maybe that could have been
brought out more. But my thinking
was, the reason she's such a bad-
ass is because of that painful
background. That's why she acts the
way she does. If that makes any
sense....

TC: You had to wear a prosthetic
nose in HF so what was is like under
the makeup?

HA: When I was at the audition,
Jaytee told me that my character
wore a prosthetic nose and asked
me if I was allergic to latex or
anything like that. I said no,
meanwhile in my head I'm going
"what the hell's a prosthetic?" I'm
such a blond because I didn't realize
what it was that Jaytee was talking
about until I got on set. Yea,
ok....that was a day of mixed
emotions. I was already nervous
because it was my first day of
filming. To add to that, there was
this HUGE fake nose being glued to
my face and basically covering my
whole face. (That was the actor
who played Henglaar's nose. I got
my own nose a few episodes later).
I was thinking the whole time, "how
am I supposed to breathe with this
thing on?" I have to admit that
getting the nose put on at first, was
a bit weird and frightening, because
I'd never had anything like that
done to me before. But Adam
Browne, who did my makeup
that day, was completely amazing
and made me feel really
comfortable. And now, it's familiar
and I miss it honestly
TC: You have recently guest
appeared in both Odyssey and
Helena Chronicles are we likely to see
those characters again?

HA: Yes. I can't tell you too much, but
yes you are going to see me again.

TC: Would you like to see those
characters grow within the series?

HA: Hells yea I would! But like I said,
you will see me again, so I guess
technically they are growing. But like I
said, I can't say too much.

TC: What is it like to
work on a Star Trek series?

HA: Haha, if this were a televised interview,
my face would tell it all! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Working on the set of Hidden Frontier/Odyssey/
Helena Chronicles is the most rewarding, fun and the
highlight of my week. As I'm sure you know I have son, Jayden,
who comes with me on the set. What sets this group aside and
makes them different from any other industry show is, they allowed me,
they wanted me, to stay on during my pregnancy and after Jayden was
born. Not only that, but if I'm filming and on camera, they help with
Jayden. They will sit with him until I'm done filming. And they don't do it
begrudgingly. They are happy to help out and they absolutely adore him!
(And vice versa). And to top it off, the general atmosphere is friendly,
relaxed, warm and inviting. And all that combined makes for an awesome
place to work. And we have FUN! Omg do we have fun! I discovered that
the friends I've made at HF are friends I'll have for life. There's nothing
better, for me, than to go to work, have my son and all of my close
friends with me. I am truly blessed to have found this group of wonderful
loving people. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TC: What was your favorite part of working on HF and what was your
favorite episode?

HA: Wow, I have to narrow it down to just one part? Well I'll start with
this. My favorite episode of HF was the one where you see me kicking
ass....that doesn't narrow it down does it? Haha...umm....okay I think the
episode I'm thinking of was either The Widening Gyre or The Center
Cannot Hold. Honestly I don't remember which one it was. But it was the
one where I was on screen the most and kicking more ass. You know it
could easily be the episode Things Fall Apart as well, so whichever one it
is that you see me the most times on camera, THAT'S my favorite
episode! Haha...and as for my favorite part of working with HF...I'm
gonna be a broken record here and say working with everyone involved
with the show. I never have a bad day when I'm there on set. And that's
one of the other reason working with Rob and the rest of the cast/crew is
so special to me and close to my heart. It's because we have amazing
people working on the show, and because we have those people, we can
all work well together, which is the reason our show is so successful. And
it's also the (other) reason our fans love us so much. We have a set that
works and the end result is we produce a great show. We love what we
do, and I think it shows in our work.




HERE ALEX MATTHEWS
TAKES AN INDEPTH LOOK
AT EXCELSIOR BALL III.
The 6
th
June, 2008, is the date that a lot of fans of the Areakt
Productions team have marked in the diaries, and made sure
to book off with whoever they work for.
This year, the Radisson Hotel near LAX Airport plays host to the
3
rd
annual Excelsior Ball, an event that allows fans of the
Internet based shows, Star Trek: Hidden Frontier and it's spin-
offs, Star Trek: Odyssey and Star Trek: Helena Chronicles, a
chance to see the cast and crew who bring the show to life.
Beginning from the mid-afternoon of the 6
th
, starting with a
friendly meet and greet session, the convention spans the
following two days, finishing on the Sunday, and includes a
series of panels discussing various topics and answering
questions, as well as showing sneak peeks into future
productions. This year as well, various other fan projects have
been invited to represent themselves, including Star Trek:
Intrepid, Star Trek: The Expedition and Star Trek: Diplomatic
Relations.

The Schedule:
Friday
Over the last 3 years, the number of people who attend the
Ball has grown, so to accommodate what will hopefully be a
big crowd, Andrew Foster, chairperson of the EB Committee,
has booked the Laguna Room of the Radisson for the weekend,
and starting from 1:00pm, guests can sign in and register their
arrival with various staff members helping to run the Ball.
Guests are encouraged to mingle, and meet the various people
they have spoke to on-line or seen perform in their favourite
episodes, while several activities also run co-current with this
Meet-&-Greet. The activities include an HF-inspired version of
Monopoly, Karaoke, watching Fan-made tributes to the world
of HF, or even watching some of the older works of Areakt
Studios. Alternatively, simply make your way to the bar and
spend some time relaxing and making new friends, or
reaffirming existing ones.
Following this is a rare glimpse into the beginnings of HF, as
Rob Caves and the crew of the Angeles fan club allow us to
watch the Angeles film The Price of Duty, which is not
available for download, and is only shared amongst the crew.
This is then followed by the airing of the Odyssey pilot, Iliad,
alongside the first of the weekend's autograph sessions.
After a dinner break for an hour, festivities resume with a trivia
contest, followed by the 2
nd
and 3
rd
Odyssey episodes, before
the evening finishes with another contest, to be hosted by
Jennifer Cole, titled What Were You Thinking. This evening
promises to help people get to know one another in a friendly
environment as the cast and crew of the invited shows mingle
with the guests, and the fun-filled activities will help make
everyone have a good time.


Saturday
The day kicks off at 9am with the opening of the day's activities, with an hour of socialising am
ongst guests and staff members, before the first autograph session runs alongside an airing of the
Hidden Frontier finale episode. This is followed by the first discussion panel of the weekend, From
Concept to Chronicles: Story Development, which will take questions from both the guests who attend
and those posed online at the HF forums, regarding how stories and plots are created and evolve from
script to screen. After a lunch break, it is time to focus on the spin-off Helena Chronicles, as their
premiere is shown before the second panel deals with the main cast from the show. There, they will
answer questions from the forums and the guests, about the characters they play, their interpretations
of them, and for those who came from Hidden Frontier, how they have grown over the years. This is
followed by airings of the 2
nd
HC episode, Obsessions, followed by the latest offering of Odyssey, Vile
Gods, alongside another autograph session. The Odyssey episode will get people in the mood for the
following panel, which focuses on the show's main cast, who will field the various questions posed to
them. The final autograph session of the day runs alongside an rare airing of the premiere episode of
the Angeles series, Return to Duty, as well as a preview of Operation: Beta Shield and several other
projects.
After an acting competition, where guests will re-enact a favourite scene alongside some of the HF,
Odyssey and HC alumni, it is time for the Celebrity Dinner, where those guests who have registered and
paid their fee, will join the various cast and crew members for dinner at Cozymel's Mexican Grill. This
promises to be a memorable time, with food and drink flowing freely amongst everyone (except
designated drivers of course!), and will be a great way to finish off the night before everyone returns to
the hotel to wind down for the night.

Sunday
Make sure you don't eat too much at breakfast on the Sunday morning, because the first screening is
The Best of the Bloopers, chosen from all those mistakes, fluffs and missed cues of the past year,
which will include ones from the final 2 episode of Hidden Frontier, and all those from Odyssey and the
Helena Chronicles. This will definitely create a light hearted mood, as the first panel of the day delves
into the actors who portray the lead Archein characters in Odyssey. The first autograph session of the
day is alongside a screening of Brian Matthew's Orphans of War, before the next panel examines the
work of the make-up team, and how they create the alien looks on a budget.
After the lunch break, the day shifts it focus onto the other fan projects that have representatives at
the Ball, with a screening of Star Trek: Intrepid's premiere, Heavy Lies the Crown, followed by the first
screening of Where There's A Sea, a short piece that takes place several weeks after the premiere
dealing with the Merchant Service ship, Ariadne. This will be shown alongside another autograph
session, before the following panel introduces people from Intrepid and the other productions, such as
Expedition and Diplomatic Relations, allowing them to answer questions on their work, and how it fits
into the HF-verse.
This will be followed by an airing of one of the latest offerings from The Expedition team, as well as
another treat from Areakt, with another Angeles episode being shown, as the finale autograph session
of the weekend is happening.
The event finishes with one final panel, dealing with fan feedback, where all opinions are welcome,
good and bad, dealing with anything from Hidden Frontier, Odyssey and Helena Chronicles. The evening
will then be brought to a close with some final comments, before everyone is encouraged to continue
with the socialising that will have been going on all weekend.

After The Ball
Although not strictly part of the Ball itself, 2 days of trips, called Away Missions have been arranged,
allowing those staying longer then the Ball to go out and about with some of the cast and crew.
Monday is a trip to Universal Studios, while on Tuesday everyone heads to Disneyland. Like the
Celebrity Dinner, this has all been pre-arranged and paid for in advance, to get an idea of how many
people are going to be in attendance, but should allow everyone some extra time with their hair down,
hanging out with the friends they have made over the weekend, as well as have some fun as well.


All in all, it promises to be a great and memorable weekend for all involved, allowing the fans of the
various productions another glimpse under the hood, into the beating heart of the world of fan
productions.


FAN FAVOURITE REBECCA
WOOD TALKS TO TCM
ABOUT HIDDEN FRONTIER
AND HER VIEWS ON THE
NEW MOVIE



TC: When did you first discover Star Trek?

RW: I used to watch the original series with my parents when I was a kid. I was a big
Spock fan, but didn't understand much of the subtleties of sci-fi at that time...I just
enjoyed the variety! I mean, it blew my mind, you never knew what would happen next.
Many years later, I was blessed enough to meet Patrick Stewart when he came to Juilliard to talk
with us. A friend and I tackled him in the hallway about Star Trek...well, to be honest, I was not brave
enough to ask the question: my friend Andy did. And he tried to raise the tone by insisting he tried to
put Shakespeare into every episode. But he was laughing - he really loved that we were nerdy enough to
bring up Star Trek at a classical acting conservatory. What a fabulous guy! A true captain in my book.

TC: How did you become involved with Hidden Frontier?

RW: I saw an audition in backstage west (I think) for the Vulcan role of S'tal. I've always been a big Vulcan fan.
They called me in, and I went. I was immediately impressed that they were so friendly and down-to-earth; this
was at a time when I had tired of the prickly atmosphere on many sets around L.A. They had me randomly
read a Betras monologue, which felt huge, like Greek Tragedy to me, so I pulled out my Inner Medea...the rest
is history. Betras was supposed to die off after one episode, but Carlos (the writer) and I begged for her to
stay, and hatched a plan. Next thing I know, it's five years later and HF is my family.











TC: In Hidden Frontier you played three characters, which one was your favourite and why?

RW: hmmm I don't know that I can answer that, really, I love them all in different ways. McFarland is the most
close to me, and the most fun and easy to be, really; Betras is so passionate and driven and (believe it or not)
loyal to her people, she lost her mind; Vindenpawl thinks she lives for her people- they were all an
experiment with myself to see "what if." like: "if I lost myself, if I stopped being Becky the woman and
became merely an office, what would it feel like?" - that's Vindy. She's sacrificed herself to an office.






TC: What differences in the way you play the characters are
there?

RW: wellll Jenna is just lighter overall, but playing her requires more energy...it's a
fine line between having the energy, and keeping it light and bouncing around. I feel
completely physically different when I play her, as opposed to Betras, her complete opposite.
Jenna is just as emotional as Betras is: it's the way it comes out that is different. Jenna uses
humor to shield herself from the things she feels; Betras is impulsive. She feels something and
-BAM! - out it comes. Betras' voice is about an octave lower than my natural voice, so I have to warm up
for about an hour before working on her. Her energy is dark, it's intense, and by the end of a shoot I feel
like I've been in a boxing match. Vindenpawl calls into play all of my classical voice and speech/Shakespearean
training. She's a queen. I haven't had much chance to work on Vindenpawl in depth; I hope to.

TC: In the final episode of Hidden Frontier the character of Betras dies, do you think that this was a fitting ending
for the character?

RW: oh...who said she died? ::chuckles:: yes...if she died, I think it was fitting. We did a "King Lear" thing where she
turned and faced her death before she died, she approached it bravely. Actually...this is corny but...when they
were filming that scene, I was reciting "do not go gentle into that good night" (Do not go gentle into that good
night, [Old age should]... burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light...)

However. That having been said, I'm not convinced that Betras is dead. I wanted them to end the episode with a
burned, ragged leather-clad grey hand appearing over the top of a ravaged metal barrier, clutching at it, as though
someone were climbing back in. They thought I was kidding...we were drinking rum and watching the first Pirates
movie at the time, that might have something to do with it.

TC: You are due to appear in the upcoming Operation Beta Shield special, what character are you going to play?

RW: Can I answer this without spoiling things? Vindenpawl.




TC: Can you tell us a bit about the character?

RW: Vindenpawl is dedicated to her people. She truly thinks she
lives for them; she wakes and sleeps with thoughts on being a strong leader.
I think she probably has Machiavelli's "the Prince" sitting by her bathtub, and
reads it religiously. Vindenpawl is of the "we need to go to Iraq and bring democracy
to these people" persuasion. Vindenpawl is of a type that exists throughout history...I'd
put her somewhere between Queen Victoria and the Spanish Inquisition in degree of
ruthlessness.

TC: Are you looking forward to filming an episode with the people from Intrepid?

RW: absolutely. I already consider them friends; it's high time we were colleagues.

TC: If you could create your own 'official Star Trek series' what would it be?

RW: Well I'll be honest, I'm more of a fantasy and history geek. If someone made a series somewhere between Lord
of the Rings and Sherlock Holmes' Victorian (and post-Victorian) England, I'd be in heaven. I keep asking for a time-
travel episode, but everyone just groans at me.

TC: Your characters and also yourself, have been extremely well received by the fans, in fact your characters are
some fans favourites, are you surprised by this?

RW: very. I actually think they're all just being sweet. I think the fans really want to go along with the stories, with
the fantasy world, and so they are excited and enthusiastic...I love them for it.

TC: Apart from OBS, are you hoping to appear in any future Areakt Pictures, productions?

RW: if I can, I will. I'll always drop everything to work for Rob: the respect with which the people at Areakt studios
treat everyone is something so fine and rare; they've won my loyalty completely. I am going to be going to law
school soon, and have dropped acting in order to focus on my studies and gain experience in the field of animal law;
but I'll even reschedule a trial date for HF. They're good people, all of them.

TC: What do you think of the spin off series that Rob and co have created to follow on in the Hidden Frontier part of
the Star Trek universe?

RW: unfortunately, I've not seen it yet...I'm really looking forward to catching up on it. I love the fact that it's
based on Homer...and having been on the fringes of some of the discussions of a new series, I am sure it's
fascinating and good. There is no lack of creativity in that studio! I love to hear them bouncing ideas around.

TC: What do you think of the idea for the latest official Star Trek Movie?

RW: I don't know much about it, to be honest, except that a friend of mine was up for Dr.
McCoy (didn't get it, alas.) I suppose...I suppose it sounds good, but I do wish they
showed all of the original actors the respect of including them. ALL of them deserve
that.
Exc


























HERE WE HAVE AN EXCERT
FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PIECE OF
FAN FICTION BASED POPULAR
STAR TREK HIDDEN FRONTIER
CHARACTER RO NEVIN.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A
PIECE OF WRITING THAT IS TO
THE AUTHORS VIEWS AND IN
NO WAY IS BASED IN THE
HIDDEN FRONTIER UNIVERSE.
As the doors to the ready room closed Ro began again,
Commander TLorra as my first officer Im intrusting you with
command of the ship in my absence. To aid you and the
lieutenant in the task Ive assigned Ive granted you access to the
ships personnel records, excluding mine of course. That, Ive
entrusted to Doctor Vaughn for the time being. I expect this
matter between the two of you to be resolved as well as your
recommendations for department heads upon my return. Do I
make myself clear commander? TLorra wasnt sure how she
could begin to work with someone as distasteful as Stadi but for
the sake of the mission she would try. Understood Sir, she
simply replied. Very well commander. Ill see you in a couple of
days. Hold position here and wish me luck. TLorra gave him a
nod to the affirmative not knowing the correct response was to
verbally wish him luck. Satisfied, Ro left the office and headed for
the shuttlebay.
It took Ro several minutes to make his way to the shuttlebay and
several more minutes to prep the shuttle for departure. Already
on board waited two other crewman who had been assigned to
join him on the trip. One, a Bajoran crewman named Iwan Par an
engineering technician, the other Lieutenant Atan Rem, a human
security officer. Rem was the consummate security officer with
plenty of battle tested experience under his belt. Ensign Par was
fresh from the academy but a proficient engineer.
Ro as the senior officer on the trip took the helm and set the
shuttle for departure. All that was left was for the Odyssey to
break out of warp and signal the dock master that the shuttle can
safely depart. The Odyssey came to a complete halt and
moments later the shuttlecraft Tsunami lifted from the pad and
slowly glided through the fluorescent blue shield into the cold
vacuum of space. Shuttlecraft Tsunami to Odyssey. We have
cleared the bay and are now on a heading of one-five-three mark
two. Estimate we will reach Kelvin space in twenty-one hours,
he reported. The Odyssey shuttlebay closed behind them as they
cleared the ships energy shields. Acknowledged Tsunami. Safe
journey to you, enjoy the nebulae. Odyssey out, the captain
ordered. Seconds later she was gone in a shaft of light leaving
the Odyssey in the blink of an eye.
It had been just over two hours of travelling when Par rose to
stretch her legs when Rem was startled by a reading on his
security panel. Commander, Im reading a disturbance just
outside of nebulae-343. Its at extreme range but from what the
sensors can ascertain there is a ship which may be under attack,
he reported. Par returned to her seat and tried to refine the
sensors to get a better reading of what was going on ahead. Any
other vessels in the vicinity Ensign, Ro asked Par. Par took a
moment to respond which only raised the level of apprehension
in the shuttle. Ive extended the range of the sensors
Commander. Lieutenant you should be getting a more enhanced
reading of the area now. Rem moved his fingers quickly over his
board and reported, Im reading no other vessels at this time,
but the sensors are having trouble scanning to deeply into the
nebulae. And the ship, Ro asked. Looks as though shes a
freighter Commander. Limited armament, and heavily damaged.
Par broke in, Im reading hull breaches on her starboard aft sir.
Several breaches and sections open to space forward. Wed have
to get closer before I can be sure if there are any survivors on
board sir.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS STORY
WILL BE AVALIABLE TO READ ON
TREKKIE CENTRAL FROM MID JUN E
2008.



























Ro knew nothing of any pirating or raiders of shipping in this
area and he didnt want to blindly stumble into something
beyond the limitations of the shuttle. Something pounded this
ship hard. It was clear whatever it was had greater firepower
than the shuttle. He thought briefly of contacting the Odyssey,
but he had not gathered enough information as yet to warrant
that. Can we establish communication with the vessel Mr.
Rem, Ro asked. Rem took a second and made repeated hails to
the unknown vessel to no avail. The incident smelled of trouble
the closer the shuttle came to the freighters position and it did
not go un-noticed that the nebulae would give perfect cover for
the attacker to await a rescuer to become snared in a trap as
well. Im dropping out of warp. Lets slow things down a bit,
Ro informed. The move drew a confused look from Par until Ro
reminded them that if they rushed forward they to could fall
victim to whatever befell the freighter.
The freighter is being drawn into the nebulae sir, Rem stated
Somethings slowly pulling the freighter into the nebulae. Ro
confirmed the readings on the ships position, How long before
it enters the nebulae, Ro asked. Rem used her board to make a
few calculations, The freighter will enter the outer rim of the
nebulae in about two hours fifteen minutes, but that could
change. Ro became concerned he may not be able to
accomplish the away mission in time with the extensive damage
the freighter had suffered. What do we know about this
nebulae lieutenant, Par asked. Rem pulled up the navigational
and sensor readings of the area. Not much sir. From the
information weve received from the Kelvin concerning this
area of space, the nebulae has been the scene of many stories
from their folk lore. It is said that a great creature resides there
and devours any ship which strays close. A creature they call
the Khalari dwells within the nebulae and feeds on wayward
vessels. Par worked feverishly to gain as much information
about the freighters damage as possible. She could not help but
be torn by the commanders orders and the thought of possible
casualties on the battered ship they slowly crept cautiously
towards. Could there be another ship waiting just inside of the
nebulae, waiting to jump an unsuspecting rescuer? She hoped
beyond hope that Ro would increase speed thus getting the
sensors close enough to scan the ship. Rem broke in, We are
now within communications range Commander. Ro took a
strained look into the nebulae as if his eyes could see
something the sensors could not. A hail could bring the
attackers screaming out of the nebulae and he knew it a risky
move to open communications. But his duty called for him to
attempt to establish contact with the freighter and then render
aid if necessary.
As Ro reached for the communications controls on his panel
Rem shouted, Shes Archein sir! Ros eyes shot forward as he
fumbled to find the engine controls. Finding them he quickly
brought the shuttle to a complete stop and ordered Rem to
raise the shields. His instinct was to have the phasers locked on
as well, but had to remember this was the ship that was
attacked and needed his help no matter who was onboard. And
there was no guarantee that the attacker would see a
federation shuttle as a friend..

























Archein freighter, this is the federation shuttlecraft Tsunami.
We have come to render aid. Please respond, he pleaded. The
hail went without response and it began to look as if no one
was there have come to who could answer. Par intensified the
scanners to the maximum to pear in through the debris and
render radiation. Slowly a picture of the freighters status
began to immerge. Sir Sensors are reading erratic life signs
about the freighter. Theyre weak but there, Par informed.
How many Ensign, Ro asked. Par tightened the resolution
and went section by section. Looks to be about eight
Commander. Most of the crew has gathered in the engine
room, two here about mid-ship in what may be a cargo hold,
and the last two on whats left of the bridge.
Ro knew now he was not only out gunned by the attacker but,
outmanned by the survivors. This incident was growing more
and more dangerous by the minute. Rem I want you to send a
subspace message to the Odyssey reporting our situation and
need of assistance, Ro ordered. Par asked, Then send a
distress message on all frequencies for any ship in the vicinity
to aid in the recovery efforts. Rem responded that will likely
be picked up by more Archein ships Ensign. We send that
message and wed be targeted by every Archein ship in the
sector.Ro wanted to calm things down a bit by interjecting a
solution the ensign could help with. Can we beam the
crewman in engineering safely without too much difficulty.
Par focused the sensors on the section scanning through the
debris, The engineering section would be difficult due to the
level of ion radiation present. I would suggest we beam just
out that section and go in on foot. Structural integrity in that
section, Par asked. It looks as though theyve set up some
kind of shielding around that section. Thats probably in an
effort to seal it off from intruders, or to protect it from further
damage from the attack. Either way, we will need them to
drop it to help them. Ro seemed frustrated but understood
the desperation of the crew. He might have done the same in
their place. Trouble now was to communicate with them the
need shields protecting them to be brought down.
Ro began to formulate a plan of action for getting to the crew
without compromising their safety. He decided that the best
plan would be for Rem and himself to split up and go for the
crewman on the bridge and the cargo bay. Rem would stay on
the shuttle and monitor the rescue efforts and also keep on
guard should the attacking ship return. Par handed out the
standard away mission equipment, the tri-corder, phaser and
the wrist mag-lite. Out of character he also picked up two
phaser rifles for added firepower. Ro gave Rem his orders
which were simple, lock onto the away teams signal and keep
one eye on the sensors and the other on the nebulae. They
also laid out predetermined spots that were suitable for
emergency beam outs, places where shielding and radiation
would not hamper a quick return to the shuttle.


CGI ARTIST PHILIP
HOGG TELLS TCM
WHAT IT REALLY IS LIKE
WORKING ON A STAR
TREK SERIES.

TC: When did you first discover Star Trek?

PH: I've always been exposed to Star Trek since a
young age as both my parents were very into TOS.
However I really didn't become truly hooked until
TNG. Once I had seen that first episode, there was no
turning back.

TC: How did you discover Hidden Frontier
Productions?

PH: Ever since I started to work on CGI, I always
enjoyed watching other peoples' creations. I was
wondering around the internet looking specifically for
fan films to watch, after seeing "Troops", the Star
Wars spoof. I came across Hidden Frontier and
watched nearly all the episodes within a week. I
posted a few images of a 3d model I was working on
of Hidden Frontier's U.S.S. Excelsior. Rob contacted
me and we started to talk... the rest, as they say, is
history.

TC: What is it like working on Star Trek shows?

PH: What can I say... it's the best job ever. If I could
give up my day job, I would do it in an instant.

TC: How difficult is it creating the ships and the
graphics that you do, you have also been working on
Federation One for a while now, and you have done
the sets for it how long have they taken?

PH: It depends on the level of quality you want. I'm a
bit of a perfectionist, so when I do something I want it
done right. Both the sets and the ships take a while to
create. I have a lot of trouble coming up with ideas
myself, so I rely on Rob Caves and the rest of the art
department. With a good design, I can model a set in
a few hours. However this normally converts into few
weeks, as I have to fit it in with my normal life. Ships
are a little different . Once I have a design, I have to
decide the best way to model the ship. If it doesn't
require any close-ups, I will probably create the detail
using textures on the model. This saves time both
modelling and rendering. For ships like Federation
One that require close-ups, the detail is modelled.



TC: How different is Federation One as a
Starship, from the other Starships in Starfleet?

PH: I don't think Federation One is too different
to other Starfleet vessels. The design principles
are the same. There are some things which are
unique to F1, but you'll have to wait for the
episodes to find those out.

TC: What is it like reading the fans reactions to
the episodes that have been released?

PH: I have to say, I'm a little selfish. Once an
episode is realised, the first thing I scan the
reactions for is anything about the CGI. Of
course I go back later to read them fully! I am
constantly inspired to carry on with what I do,
and every episode gives me goose bumps when
I see it completed for the first time.

TC: What is your favourite episode so far that
you have worked on?

PH: My first work was on episode 101 of
ST:Odyssey, "Illiad". I guess this is the episode I
am most proud of. However, my favourite
episode to date would have to be episode 102
of ST:The Helena Chronicles, "Obsessions".

TC: What is your favourite ship that you have
created?

PH: Every ship has improved my skills as a 3d
artist, and I'm most fond of Federation One.
She's the most advanced starship I've created,
and uses all the knowledge from other ships
I've built so that she is the easiest to use. Plus,
I love Sean Tourangeau's design.



Ive only been a Trek fan for the last two years, when I started in Hidden Frontier. From
what Ive seen, Star Trek has come a long way since its first airing. And I mean that in
every sense. The make-up and graphics are much improved. The costumes are better and
more realistic. Even though these things have changed and improved over the years, the
originals are the classics that will always be loved and remembered.

If someone were to ask me where I thought Star Trek should go, or if it should change I
would say; Dont change. Keep improving and dont play things safe. Take a chance and
dont be afraid to be bold. One example of Trek changing for the better would be Hidden
Frontier. The graphics alone have gotten so much better just in the last year. The make-up
only gets better and our actors never cease to improve.

One thing I agree with Rob is, Hidden Frontier touches on real-life incidences. Depression,
terrorism, inequality, what to do if your ship gets repossessed by the enemy, that sort of
thing. And I would say that as long as people are willing to stick with storylines that
include interesting topics that touch a variety of people on all levels, Star Trek , studio &
fan films, will continue to remain popular.

Sincerely,
~Heather Ashleigh~