The Runabout -1- Issue 13: March 2015 · The Runabout -3- Issue 13: March 2015 @cknowledgements Our thanks go to this issue's contributors (listed alphabetically): CMDR Zig Potts

The Runabout -1- Issue 13: March 2015


@ttention ^ll h^nds ...

Well, the election is over. The results are in, and after the third round of

voting, I have received the plurality of votes in the matter of the Regional

Coordinator for Region 20. I’d like to thank everyone who has engaged

with the process, including Alan who ran against me. This process has led

to people asking questions about Region 20 and the processes of SFI, and

that can only be a good thing.

What I’d like folks to do now is take a couple of days to reflect on the

entire election process. Via Facebook and the mailing list, a survey will be

circulated. All responses will be anonymised and the findings of the survey

will be submitted to the CoS of the Region, and the Fleet ECAB.

Your feedback is important, in this matter as well as many others.

Please don’t stop offering suggestions and sharing thoughts. We might not

be able to follow every single idea we receive, but we want to listen.

Now it’s time to move on.

FCD is upon us. The Stargazer and Iceni are going to be collaborating

on a combined presence. If you are attending, please come over and say

"hi". Likewise, there are still many open positions at Regional Level

including Chief of Regional Communications and Recruitment Officer.

To quote Spock’s final dialogue from ST: 2009 "Thrusters to full" ...

Dan

FLEET CAPTAIN Dan Adams

Vice Regional Coordinator

"To Thine Own Self Be True"


@@cckknnoowwlleeddggeemmeennttss Our thanks go to this issue's

contributors (listed alphabetically):

CMDR Zig Potts USS Stargazer

CMDR Eilidh Montgomery USS Alba

CAPT Scott Peter USS Alba

The Runabout is the newsletter of STARFLEET

International, Region 20. Unless otherwise stated, all

articles are the property of the author. Any opinions

expressed are solely those of the author and may not

reflect the opinions of the editors, STARFLEET Region

20 or STARFLEET International.

Star Trek and all related trademarks are the

exclusive property of CBS. They are used here without

permission for entertainment purposes only.

IIssssuuee DD^̂tteess Issue Date Deadline for

Submissions

SPRING

SUMMER

AUTUMN

WINTER

March

June

September

December

18 February

22 May

22 August

22 November

Please remember that the Editor only

edits the magazine so unless you make

submissions, the Runabout will be very

small indeed. All submissions are

welcome, but the Editor reserves the

right to edit, postpone or not to

publish a particular item.

Submissions should be sent to

[email protected] . Many

thanks.


In this Issue ...

Attention all hands .............................................................................................. 2 In this Issue ... ...................................................................................................... 4 Are you our next Chief of Communications?....................................................... 5 The Assistant Surgeon General, Region 20.......................................................... 7 Word Search ........................................................................................................ 9 The Secret of The Venture PART THREE ............................................................10 Trubute to Leonard Nimoy ................................................................................17 Word Search Answers........................................................................................19

A A A

Cover photo by unknown but I'd willingly give credit if I could.


@re you our next Chief of Communic^tions>

Currently, the Chief of Regional Communications has had quite an extensive list

of responsibilities. However, Dan is splitting it into two roles due to two very

different sides to it:

Chief of Regional Communications Responsible for the newsletter

Chief of Computer Operations Responsible for the website and mailing

lists maintenance.

The role that Dan needs to fill here is the Chief of Regional Communications—

that means he's looking for someone to do the newsletter. Could that be you?

The last time I said that to someone, the look of horror in their eyes was

shocking. Anybody would have thought I'd just handed them a red shirt and said,

"Just pop that on and then go say hello to the nice Borg over there", so then I sat

and thought about it. What exactly does producing the magazine involve? Is it a

big feat or is it relatively easy?

Well, that depends on how flashy you want to be. I kept it simple for my own

convenience. It made it quick and easy to pull together. So, what do I do? How

do I pull it together? Well, I'll share that with you in the hope that maybe it will

inspire you to be the next editor. Remember, though, that this is just what I do.

It's not necessarily the right way. It's not necessarily the best way, but it's

worked for me.

Firstly, I set myself a target of four issues a year to be published at the

beginning of March, June, September and December, and I allow myself about

three weeks to pull it all together, producing an edition of about thirty pages.

@@sskkiinngg ffoorr ssuubbmmiissssiioonnss ...... Around the 7th of the month before I start asking people for submissions. I make

posts on both Facebook pages and I also contact other possible contributors

directly. That list includes the Commanding Officers, the Assistant Surgeon

General and the BOIC. I don't expect something from everyone every time but

usually one or two of them will oblige. I ask for submissions by 22nd of each

month which still gives me plenty of time to get things together. Articles then

start to come in and I usually process them as they do so I don't have one mad

rush at the end. It doesn't take lot to get people to submit, but if you don't ask,

you don't get.

A few days before the deadline for submissions, I'll chase the last few articles


and ask the RC for his little bit. On the basis that by now, because I've been

compiling the magazine during the month, if the last couple of articles are a

couple of days late, it's not usually too inconvenient.

WWhh^̂tt ssooffttww^̂rree ddoo II uussee>> Just good, ol', simple Microsoft Word using a single-column A5 format. This is

purely because the finished product will be easy to read on eReaders and tablets

without lots of zooming in and scrolling about the page. As to the template I use,

I'll happily let the new Editor have it if they wish, but that's not a requirement of

the post. You can format it however you wish and use whatever software you

wish.

TThhee ccoovveerr ...... I always fret over the cover of the magazine. Personally, I like to pick something

that is distinctly Trek or at least sci-fi. Generally, at some point during the

preceding months, something on Facebook will catch my eye. The minute I see

it, I know that's my next cover photo. I then seek permission from the author

and give credit inside the publication.

PPrrooooffiinngg:: HHooww ff^̂rr ddoo II ggoo>> I admit it. I'm a bit pedantic over

this, but as a writer, that's not

surprising really. I check spelling,

grammar, typography and

content for those little typos that

we all make, but let's remember

that this is a publication writing

by the members for the

members. Just because I'm a

stickler for these things, doesn't

mean the new editor has to be as

finicky as I am.

FFiilllliinngg tthhee gg^̂ppss Inevitably, there are always little

bits of pages left over—gaps that need to be filled. This can be done with

cartoons, jokes, crosswords, word searches, pictures, puzzles and suchlike. There


are plenty of apps on the internet to help with that and I have some bookmarked

too.

@@pppprroovv^̂ll I try to get the issue together a couple of days before the publication date as it

needs to go to the RC for approval. Once it's been approved, it can be released.

PPuubblliicc^̂ttiioonn Publication is as a PDF file generated using CutePDFWriter. It's a super little free

tool that you print to, just as you would a printer.

DDiissttrriibbuuttiioonn As a benefit to members, the magazine is only available to paid members until

the next magazine is out. To distribute, the editor will need to provide me with a

copy of the magazine so I can upload it to the website and provide the link

details. The CoRC can then eMail the link to members so they can download it.

A A A

That's about it really. It's not a long process and I reckon it takes me about six to

eight hours to pull together a publication from beginning to end but that's

spread out over the month prior to publications. So the only question now is, do

you fancy a go? If so, please contact he RC, FCAPT Dan Adams ...

[email protected]

The @ssist^nt Surgeon Gener^l, Region 20

C@PT Scott Peter, SFMD Deputy @ssist^nt Surgeon Gener^l

Having just recently sat and passed COM101: Basic

Doctorate at STARFLEET Academy, I decided to get

more involved in the activities of STARFLEET

Medical in Region 20 and my own chapter. This exam

allows you to be a STARFLEET Medical Doctor (SFMD),

for fun purposes only of course! As a chapter CO, my

energies are usually directed at ensuring all the departments on the Alba are


active and everyone is included as well as the day to day issues and the monthly

report to Fleet. However, I have decided to make time to become involved in this

aspect of SFI.

The STARFLEET Medical Corp has a presence at Fleet level and is slowly

permeating out into the regions. Each region can have an Assistant Surgeon

General (ASG) at the discretion of their RC, similar to other areas of membership

interest. Its main aim is to develop opportunities wherein STARFLEET members

in good standing can:

• Improve their knowledge of health science/health promotion/home safety

topics;

• Find the connections of real-world health science, health promotion, and

home safety topics to similar issues in the "Star Trek" universe;

• Develop leadership and collaboration skills in order to promote good

citizenship;

• Undertake modest

community service

activities in collaboration

with like-minded

members in the various

SFI Regions.

Mostly this involves posting

articles and links to the

Region 20 ASG Facebook page

or directly to our own ASG,

LCDR Amanda Barrow via

email for posting on the R20

ASG Blog Page. These have

included recent medical

breakthroughs, articles on public health issues and, of course, parallels or direct

links to the medical world of Star Trek.

Remember, at no time can any member of the Region 20 STARFLEET Medical

Corp offer medical advice of any sort (unless they are a real life nurse or doctor

etc.), so please approach your own GP etc. for any real life medical concerns.

CCoonntt^̂cctt IInnffoo:: • Region 20 ASG LCDR Amanda Barrow: [email protected]

• Region 20 Deputy ASG CAPT Scott Peter: [email protected]

• Websites: https://assistantsurgeongeneralofficer20.wordpress.com/

• http://starfleetmedical.org/


Word Se^rch

We all know Leonard Nimoy for his role as Spock, but what other TV series has

he been in? How many can you find? Answers at the end of magazine.

X T B D U C K M A N G E T S M A R T U W

U H E C E K O M S N U G M T S M N H T F

O E C U G Y B J E E V L S H E Y I E I G

D O K L N R Z D L M A D Q E S I A B Y P

A U E P I E K S B A F P U T I H R I F T

N T R B R L H E I C U E A W R E T G R H

I E L N F L W M S K T R D I O L N B B E

E R O A N A 8 A S E U R M L S C O A R S

L L R M A G 7 G O N R Y A I L N G N O I

B I T L I T T Y P Z A M R G A U A G K M

O M A L N H H L M I M A C H N M W T E P

O I P A I G P D I E A S O T U O G H N S

N T Y T G I R A N S H O P Z S R L E A O

E S A E R N E E O R C N O O E F E O R N

M F W H I K C D I A O J L N H N B R R S

C P H T V K I M S I L H O E T A E Y O O

D B G Q E G N V S D U P X K X M R A W S

O N I U H F C I I E M B E Y D E E S P P

W D H U T J T Q M R B I R T V H H M G H

R E K O O H J T L S O H H O V T T X B G


The Secret of The Venture P@RT THREE

@ sci-fi seri^l ^dventure CMDR Eilidh Montgomery, USS @lb^

Ch^pter Five Tiberius MacAlpin tossed and turned in bed that night. He was plagued by

dreams—he always had been, even in his earliest childhood he had woken crying

in the night as the bad dreams woke him, frightened. And once again, the same

dream he had been having recently occurred.

"Keep her steady!"

"I cannot, Captain! It’s not answering—we’ve lost power to the helm!"

"Try it! Everyone, this is your Captain speaking. We are under attack. I repeat,

we are under attack. Go to your battle stations." He stopped for a moment and

drew a breath before he went on. "Good luck."

Slowly, he thumbed off the intercom and turned back to his chair. He noticed

that the bridge crew were looking at him and nodded.

"You heard me, we don’t stand a chance."

At that precise moment, a double salvo shook the ship again. It seemed as

though the enemy ship knew that they were unable to return fire, and they used

every ounce of their power against them.

"Captain?"

It seemed the Captain knew what the helm was trying to say and he turned to

her and shook his head.

"I am not considering surrender at all. That is not an option." He turned to the

communications officer. "Send a signal to headquarters!"

"Aye, Captain."

His hands moved swiftly over his control panel.

"I can’t raise them ... on any frequency!"

He paused for a moment, listening intently through his ear-receiver.

"Captain! The alien ship is signalling us!"

"Answer them. Put them on the screen." He turned to the screen ... at last

face to face with their attackers. "My name is Captain MacAlpin of the Starship

Venture. We are on a peaceful mission—"

"We know who you are, only too well ... Stephen," the Alien responded. "You


do not think that we would not have come after you?" The tone changed. "You

are out of time. In a moment you will be boarded. I am waiting, Captain

MacAlpin. Give me your unconditional surrender and I will not destroy you."

The Captain’s voice was quiet when he replied, but everyone on the Bridge

heard every word.

"I will never give you that!"

"You will all die! You have but one of your earth minutes left. What do you

say, Captain? Will you save your crew by surrendering yourself to us? Your crew

will not be harmed if you come of your own free will."

Keeping his eyes on the screen, Captain MacAlpin spoke clearly.

"Computer, begin auto-destruct sequence. Everyone, this is the Captain

speaking ... for the last time. In one minute, this vessel will self-destruct. I am

sorry, but you all know our orders. Good luck."

The explosion lit up space for what seemed an eternity and then all that was

left was darkness and silence, and debris hanging on nothingness.

Tiberius moaned and thrashed his legs which were tangled up in the sheet—

he was soaked with sweat.

His father’s face swam before his eyes, in close-up as it were, and he saw the

resignation in his eyes as he raised them, seeming to look right at him.

"I had no alternative—no choice. Forgive me."

That was the last message headquarters should have received, but it had

never been sent. Tiberius could see his father’s finger on the transmit key on the

touchpad on the arm of the command chair. It would have turned green if the

message had been sent. It was still not green and seconds later the ship

exploded.

He awoke screaming. This time, however, he smothered it in the sweat-

soaked pillow. He did not want anyone to know; they might do anything. They

might take his ship away before he even got the chance to command her.

He groped for his glass of water and took a gulp. He lay thinking about the

scene that played out in his head. They were so vivid. He compared it with the

last time he had seen it. It seemed that there was more to it this time. The alien

attacker had called his father by his first name, and said he knew only too well

who he was. What had his father done that would have the aliens coming after

them to demand his surrender? And why had he preferred to destroy the entire

ship ... even though the crew had been promised safety? He could not

understand that. Did that mean his father was hiding something, something that

some of the crew might have known about? Had he killed them all, and himself,

to hide something he had done?

His father’s words "forgive me" were playing on his mind. Why did he need


forgiveness? Was it just because he was carrying out his orders to destroy the

prototype rather than let it fall into alien hands?

There was something else too, something he could not work out ... something

missing. He closed his eyes and tried to picture the scene in his mind again.

There was a soft tap at the door and the lights came on softly as Lashinda let

herself in.

"Tibby? Are you okay?" She came and sat on the edge of the bed. She took in

the dishevelled sheets, the pillow on the floor...the smell of sweat.

"You dreamed again?" She touched his shoulder, it was wet and clammy. "Go

and have a shower. I will strip the bed for you. Go on."

Tiberius got up and headed for the shower. When he returned, wrapped in

his dressing gown, the bed was re-made and Lashinda was at the coffee

machine.

"Get into bed. I am making you cocoa," she said, looking over her shoulder.

He slipped under the sheets and cuddled down until she came over with a

steaming mug. He sat up and wrapped his hands around it.

"There was more this time," he said softly. "It is like I am gradually seeing

more of the picture ... I am scared ... It looks like he is hiding something." He

looked up. "What if they were right?"

Lashinda came and sat beside him.

"What if they were wrong? You don’t know what happened. You think you

are seeing what happened through your dreams."

"I know I am! You don’t believe me!"

"I do believe you ... just don’t let your imagination run wild. When you wake

up in the morning, think back on it and write some things down. Not now, not

while you are still upset."

"There’s something worrying me, something wrong with the picture I see. I

cannot work it out. I know there is something I am not seeing that should be

there!"

"Drink your cocoa and go back to sleep. I won’t stay tonight. You need sleep."

Lashinda stroked his hair and then kissed him. She watched him drink the

cocoa and then took the mug and put it aside as he lay down. She pulled the

sheets up and tucked him in and then bent down to kiss him. He pulled his arms

out from under the sheets and wrapped them around her, pulling her down and

kissing her.

"I love you, Lash."

"I love you too, Tibby. Now, go to sleep. I will stay here until you do."

A A A


When he woke, a little later than his usual time, Tiberius MacAlpin lay staring at

the ceiling for a while, then he remembered. He had dreamed it again, and this

time there was something ... something that bugged him. Something that should

have been there, but he could not work out yet what it was. What should he be

able to see when looking at that scene? It must be important or he would not

have that feeling. The absence of whatever it was, was staring him in the face, he

knew it.

He sighed and got up, dressing quickly in his new uniform. He didn’t get his

usual breakfast from the selection he had in his kitchen area but headed for the

plaza. He wanted something substantial, something he didn’t get very often. He

went to his usual cafe and ordered coffee and a bacon and egg roll.

Galen walked past just then and MacAlpin called to him, touching the order

pad again to place an order for milky coffee and pancakes which he knew the

older man had without fail for his breakfast: pancakes with bacon and maple

syrup.

Galen came across and sat down.

"I see you have already ordered for me," he said, nodding at the holographic

image of their table’s order, hovering over the order pad.

"I need to talk to you, about father," MacAlpin said. "Especially that last

mission."

Galen was silent as their order arrived and he put sugar into his coffee.

"Why?"

"Why shouldn’t I?" MacAlpin replied. "Are you hiding something?!" The next

moment he was sorry he had raised his voice at his father’s old friend, his own

friend. "Sorry, Xander."

"It’s all right. I understand how you feel, especially now."

"I need to know!" Tiberius MacAlpin drew a deep breath and added, "my

dreams ... they are of nothing but of that day. The first time it was just the ship

exploding, then the next I saw inside, just before the explosion. Then the third

time, the scene seemed to be re-enacted for me. Each time, there is a little more

information. It almost seems like father is trying to tell me what happened, and

how."

Galen drew a deep breath as MacAlpin finished speaking. He took another sip

of his coffee. His hand shook a little as he set the mug down again.

"I’m sorry, Tiberius, I cannot tell you anything about that day. I was not

there."

MacAlpin stared at him for a long moment and then understanding crossed

his face.

"Now I know what was missing in my dream last night. You were not in your


usual place beside the Captain. You were the First Officer on The Venture during

that mission, though, weren’t you? How come you weren’t there?"

Galen looked up from his mug, his hands wrapped around it.

"Yes, I was the First Officer on that voyage. I am sorry, Tiberius, I cannot tell

you anything."

"Cannot ... or will not?!" MacAlpin’s face was red as he said this. "I know you

must know something. If you were my father’s First Officer, how come you were

not there to die with the others? What is the secret? Is it that you were the

coward and escaped somehow, leaving my father to be blamed?"

Galen’s hands shook and he knocked his mug over and stood up.

"You have said more than enough, Tiberius. It is only my loyalty to your father

and my promise to him that prevents me from punching you in the mouth for

what you just said!"

"Then tell me!"

"I cannot ... and I will not!" Galen’s voice was very soft as he said this. "I

understand that your dream is upsetting and that you believe you have the right

to know what happened. It does not give you the right to make such a horrible

accusation against me. I stood by your father through thick and thin, all the years

we served together. If I tell you that it was not my fault that I was not there,

would you believe me? If I had been, you know I would have died at his side, his

friend, as always."

He turned and walked away. Tiberius MacAlpin watched him go, too angry to

call him back, angry at himself for calling his friend and mentor a coward, angry

with Galen for not telling him the facts.

A A A

That evening, MacAlpin stood on the balcony outside his quarters, a glass in his

hand, his other hand tucked around Lashinda’s waist.

"You’re quiet tonight, Tibby," Lashinda said softly, putting her arm around

him. "Is something wrong? You look broody; you should be happy, Captain!"

Tiberius looked up at the dark sky like a cushion of black velvet encrusted

with millions of diamonds, stars beyond stars, and the swirling shimmer of the

Milky Way wafting its path across the heavens.

"I fell out with Xander. I called him a coward, asking him why the Venture’s

First Officer was not there to die alongside his Captain. I was pretty mean and

didn’t call him back when he walked away hurt."

Lashinda looked at him

"Don’t hurt him, Tibby. He has always been there for you. He will have a

reason why he cannot tell you. Maybe he really cannot. What if he had to take


an oath of silence? You know how hushed up this whole affair of your father and

the Venture has been. You need to go and see him. You have left it all day, you

cannot leave it until tomorrow. He was your father’s friend and has always been

yours. Call him. Go and see him tonight."

Tiberius sighed. He knew she was right. He called Galen on the chip

communication device in his wrist. There was no response.

"He won’t answer me," he said. "I’ll go along and see if he is in. Good night,

Lash. Thanks for making me see what a fool I am."

She kissed him.

"Go and tell him you are sorry. Play chess with him like you always used to—

anything. Inside, he will understand why you got mad. Finding out what

happened to your father means a lot to you."

Tiberius nodded and went out, going to Galen’s apartment and pressing the

buzzer. He waited a while and then pressed it again. Then he called, "Xander! I’m

sorry. I was mean to you. Please, talk to me."

There was another long while and then the door opened and Xander Galen

stood there

"Come on in, Tiberius. I wondered if you would come."

"I have known you since I was ever so young," Tiberius replied. "After all, you

were there for me. How could I not come?"

"Come in then, don’t just stand there," Galen said, shutting the door behind

them. "I feel that I owe you some kind of explanation as to why I cannot tell you

what you want to know."

He led Tiberius into the living room. He waited until the younger man was

sitting and then sat opposite him.

"I am not allowed to tell you what happened all those years ago. The events

that led up to your father destroying the Venture are shrouded in secrecy. I had

to swear I would not speak—"

"Did he do wrong? Please, you must tell me that!"

"I neither condemn nor condone any action your father took," Galen replied.

"I cannot tell you—whatever he did, he was my friend and my commanding

officer."

"You were not there. You were First Officer. Were you not on that mission?"

Galen kind of shook his head and then looked down.

"I was there when we set off, I already told you I was. It was a long mission.

Things happen, Tiberius."

"Were you wounded?"

Galen shook his head again.

"I was wounded early in the mission, along with your father, but I was well


again by then. I just cannot tell you anything more."

"Tell me one thing, please? Were you on the ship? I cannot see you in the

dream. I want my dream to be wrong. I want you to have been there so that I

know my mind was lying to me. Were you on the ship the day my father

destroyed her?"

Forced to respond, Galen shook his head.

"I was not on the ship. Do not ask me any more questions, please. I cannot

answer them! If you want to know anything further, then you must ask to see

the files. I wish to God I had been there! Whatever happened, your father

needed a friend when he made his decision. I was his First Officer. I should have

been at his side."

"Then why weren’t you?!" Tiberius MacAlpin’s face grew red. He was not

angry with Galen, not even because he would not answer. He was angry with

himself in a way; that he kept on pushing his old friend.

"I was unable to be there, through your father’s choice," Galen said quietly. "I

do not know if he knew then what he would do and wished to spare my life or if

he really was mad at me because I challenged his authority on a decision he

made, but I do know I was left behind on the planet."

Tiberius stared at him. "You were abandoned?"

Galen nodded.

"If you want to put it like that. I suppose that is what it was. Of course,

Stephen didn’t call it that." Galen sat down again. "Tiberius, you must promise

not to ask me anything more. All I will say is that I was left behind, supposedly to

follow through with something we had been working on. They were to come

back for me. The next thing I knew was that the Venture had left orbit and then

the people of the planet seized me, handcuffed me and marched me off to

prison. I was there for years before our government were able to trace me and

negotiate for my release. Your father’s log, stating where I was, must not have

reached headquarters." If he ever sent it, he thought.

Tiberius leaned back in his chair.

"Prison?"

Galen nodded. "I do not want to talk about it. It was not ... pleasant."

Tiberius looked at him for a long while and then nodded.

"I will demand to see the files. I can see that whatever happened disturbs

you."

Galen looked at him and then stood up and went to look out of the window

across the dark city, the bright lights twinkling below.

"I want you to go now, Tiberius. I accept your apology. I understand why you

were mad. I sympathise, but it has reminded me of things I want to forget.


Please leave me. I will talk with you tomorrow."

Tiberius stood up and turned to the door.

"I am sorry, sorry that I hurt you ... and that I have made you remember. All I

ask is that you try and think what is like for me, not knowing. Trying to find out

but being told that it is a secret, that the files are classified. If you only knew."

He did not look back so he did not see Galen’s face. If he had seen it, he

would have known that his father’s old friend knew and understood more of

what he was feeling than he realised.

Tiberius hurried away, back to his own apartment, while Galen dropped into a

chair and buried his face in his hands with a shuddering breath.

Trubute to Leon^rd Nimoy

(Mostly t^ken from Wikipedi^)

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born on

26th March 26th 1931. Sadly, we

saw his passing on 27th February.

He was an actor, film director,

poet, singer-songwriter and

photographer.

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born

in the West End of Boston,

Massachusetts, the son of Jewish

immigrants from Iziaslav, Soviet

Union (now Ukraine). His parents

left Iziaslav separately—his father

first walking over the border into Poland—and reunited in the United States. His

mother, Dora (née Spinner), was a homemaker and his father, Max Nimoy,

owned a barbershop in the Mattapan section of Boston. He had an elder

brother, Melvin.

Nimoy began acting at the age of eight in a children's and neighbourhood

theatre. His parents wanted him to attend college and pursue a stable career or

even learn to play the accordion—with which, his father advised, Nimoy could

always make a living—but his grandfather encouraged him to become an actor.

His first major role was at 17, as Ralphie in an amateur production of Clifford

Odets' Awake and Sing!, which dealt with the struggles of a matriarchal Jewish

family during the Great Depression. Nimoy said the role "lit a passion" that led


him to pursue an acting career. "I never wanted to do anything else."

Nimoy took drama classes at Boston College and, after saving $600 from

selling vacuum cleaners, at the Pasadena Playhouse where he became a devotee

of Konstantin Stanislavsky's Method

acting concepts. Nimoy said that the stage

allowed him to explore the "psychological,

emotional, and physical territories of life

that can't be done anywhere else," which

he said led him into acting. He took

method actor Marlon Brando as a role

model and like him, wore jeans and T-

shirt. Between studies, to have some

income, he took a job at an ice cream

parlour on the Sunset Strip.

In 1953 Nimoy enlisted in the United

States Army Reserve at Fort McPherson

Georgia, serving for 18 months until 1955,

leaving as a sergeant. Part of Nimoy's time

in the military was spent with the Army

Special Services putting on shows which

he wrote, narrated and emceed. During

that period, he also directed and starred

in A Streetcar Named Desire, with the

Atlanta Theater Guild.

While in his early twenties, he also

taught acting classes in Hollywood and

made some minor film and television appearances through the 1950s, as well as

playing the title role in Kid Monk Baroni. Foreshadowing his fame as a semi-alien,

he played Narab, one of three Martian invaders in the 1952 movie serial Zombies

of the Stratosphere.

After two years of part-time study, in 1977 Nimoy earned a MA in Education

from Antioch College. He received an honorary doctorate from Antioch

University in Ohio, awarded for activism in Holocaust remembrance, the arts,

and the environment and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Boston

University.

He made his first appearance in the rejected Star Trek pilot "The Cage" (1965)

and went on to play the character of Spock until 1969, followed by eight feature

films and guest slots in the various spin-off series. The character has had a

significant cultural impact and garnered Nimoy three Emmy Award nominations;


TV Guide named Spock

one of the 50 greatest TV

characters. After the

original Star Trek series,

Nimoy starred in Mission:

Impossible for two

seasons, hosted the

documentary series In

Search of..., narrated

Civilization IV, and made

several well-received

stage appearances. He

also had a recurring role in the science fiction series Fringe.

Nimoy's fame as Spock was such that both of his autobiographies, I Am Not

Spock (1975) and I Am Spock (1995), were written from the viewpoint of sharing

his existence with the character. Nimoy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of

Fame.

Sadly, on 27th February, Spock left us. Our hearts are broken, but he gave us

all so much, a debt we could never repay—and he'd never ask us to.

Word Se^rch @nswers

87th Precinct

Becker

Bonanza

Broken Arrow

Columbo

Combat!

Daniel Boone

Deadly Games

Duckman

Fringe

Futurama

Get Smart

Gunsmoke

Highway Patrol

M Squad

Mackenzie's

Raiders

Marco Polo

Mission

Impossible

Night Gallery

Perry Mason

Rawhide

Sea Hunt

Star Trek

T J Hooker

The Big Bang

Theory

The Man from

UNCLE

The Outer Limits

The Powers of

Matthew Star

The Rebel

The Simpsons

The Sun Also Rises

The Tall Man

The Twilight Zone

The Virginian

Wagon Train

Well, th^t's ^bout it for this issue. The next issue is out 1st June with the de^dline for submissions being 22nd M^y. Th^nk you

everyone for so m^ny wonderful contributions.

Documents

The Runabout -1- Issue 13: March 2015 · The Runabout -3- Issue 13: March 2015 @cknowledgements Our thanks go to this issue's contributors (listed alphabetically): CMDR Zig Potts