Editing Newsletter/July 2006 (section)

== The Champlain, her captain, her story. ==
by [[User:KevinSchram|Kevin Schram]]

July 25th, 2006. The [[USS Champlain|Champlain]] has started posting, and posting has really took off. "THANK YOU for such a great start to the USS Champlain. The posts have been excellent and we’re off to a strong start," [[User: JPB|Jeff]] said in the ship's first compile. She reached her 50th post on July 23rd, (written by Jeff himself) and her 100th post shortly after on July 25th, written by the likable [[Jono Bradley]].

The ship is filled with a mix of experanced players, like Jeff, [[Jono Bradley| Jono]], [[User:KevinSchram|Kevin Schram]], Robbie Gray, and Al Muir, along with a collection of likable new players, like Connie, Noel, Todd and John.

Jeff's rise to captaincy has been a rugged one. Jeff joined the game in early 2005, and became Chief Tactical Officer of the Nimitz only a week after joining Freedom. An extermely well-written post in which his character ([[Paul Casely]]) excuted an advanced tactical maneuver called the ''Casely Maneuver'', also added to Jeff's reputation has a excellent writer and player.

In late Feburary 2005, Jeff was offered a chance to be the first officer of [[Starbase Geneva]]. During this time, Geneva achived record posting levels. Many have drawn comparisons between the Champlain and Geneva. "You've got a station that was just launched, combined with a handful of grizzled vetern players, and a handful of fresh-eyed rookies.", Kevin said, who's first station was Geneva. However, times were not all good, Geneva's commanding officer was having RL issues, and could not command the station, leaving Jeff in the captain's chair.

In one of the most contraversal moves in recent history, the Council voted to merge Starbase Geneva to the USS Boudicca, while many thought Jeff should simply be made CO. Jeff was made Third Officer of the Boudicca for a short interim, when his friend Al offered him a chance to return to the Nimitz has her first officer. During this time, he also accepted the position of Head of the Academy, showing his dedication to Freedom, and new young players.

In July of 2005, when the game hit 72 players, work was made to prepare a new ship to be launched. Jeff was the captain, and he choose a Galaxy-class ship. He picked the name ''Champlain'', after Samuel de Champlain, one of the early explorers of Canada, Jeff's homeland. 

"I'm very proud of the USS Champlain as its both fully intergrated and a slight departure from things. We're going to be involved in the civil war, but I expect to be spending more time on exploring the Beta Quadrant at this point," Jeff promised. With an excellent CO, a fine ship, and a great crew, the future for the USS Champlain appears to be a bright one.