Home Trek - The Next Phase (Aka Attempt Number 2... or 3)

[Cyros]

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Guess who it is?

Turns out I couldn't keep this dead indefinitely. Been thinking about this adventure many times over since last summer, and in recent months I really went all out in hammering out the little details. But now I think it's time to get these ideas out into an actual medium, instead of keeping them up in my brain. It's pretty crowded in there already. Fear of my limited art abilities be damned, I'm gonna do this and I'm going to take my damn sweet time so I can enjoy every waking moment of it!

So... who's ready to go back to space?

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Home Trek


Within the reaches of the cosmos, in a galaxy called the MILKY WAY, in a region called the ORION SPUR, orbiting a star known as SOL, is a planet called EARTH. A planet that a race of beings called HUMANS (less commonly known as TERRANS) call home.

For thousands of years human beings lived alone on this world, in perpetual conflict with one another over everything from resources to religious beliefs, political power to scientific knowledge. But the day came when humanity finally learned that they were not the only ones to inhabit the universe, and their own inner-conflicts were finally put into perspective.

It took decades more of pushing, reformation and rejection of old hatreds, but at the dawn of the 22nd century, the people of Earth united as an endless weave of countless ideals, beliefs and dreams. And to continue their own growth, they offered friendship to their stellar companions, who had patiently waited for humanity to overcome the forces that divided itself, just as they had done generations ago.

Together, the united people of Earth and their new friends, the SKAIAN ALLIANCE, began to expand into the stars beyond.


==>


Today, what was once a partnership of two cultures has grown into a grand community of worlds and colonies, with hundreds of member species spanning thousands of square light years. This organization is known throughout the quadrant as the STELLAR BROTHERHOOD OF UNITED RACES AND BIOSPHERES; SBURB for short.

(Originally it was known as the Stellar Brotherhood of United Races and Planets, but the founding members felt that SBURP was not a very elegant acronym for their newly created interstellar republic and voted to change it soon afterwards.)

From it's seat of power on Earth itself, SBURB labors constantly to promote the universal values of freedom, equality, prosperity, knowledge, and more. Its citizens hold to right to their beliefs and lifestyles, never to fear unfair judgment due to their race, their gender, their beliefs, their orientation, their traditions. And in this environment of freedom and encouragement to be one's self, billions of beings continually better themselves, so their descendents, and their worlds, may continue to enjoy the same rights that they do.

Yet their is still much out there in the universe to learn. Space is vast, with only a small fraction of the galaxy explored, and much more waiting beyond the reaches of the galactic horizon. Though there are many adventurers who brave the unknown to explore the stars, much of the duties of space exploration, alongside the advancement of science, diplomatic relations and the defense of the Brotherhood, lie within the organization known as STARFLEET. With a fleet of thousands of faster-than-light starships of various sizes and shapes, this quasi-military service serves the citizens and governments of SBURB when dealing with new unknown races, and with the other interstellar powers that call the quadrant home.

And here, we finally take notice of a short range SHUTTLE-POD departing from Earth.


==>


It is on this day, the 13th day of the 4th month of the 64th year of the 24th century (by Earth standards), that a young CAPTAIN is currently on route to take his first official command. Though it has been only a mere thirteen weeks he has been this rank, the time has finally come for him to step into the ranks of captaincy, to take charge of his vessel, and boldly go where...

Wait, we've heard this phrase already; why repeat it? Do we really need to beat a dead space horse?

Anyway...

We can see our young CAPTAIN in the company of his FIRST OFFICER, a COMMANDER with whom he has a bit of history with already. They seem to be in the middle of a heated discussion as their transport approaches its destination.

Just what subject would grasp their attention so profoundly?

[volnrok]

> They are discussing the theoretical possibility of time travel

(well, he is the FIRST OFFICER of TIME)

[Wessolf27]

> They are discussing the theoretical possibility of time travel

(well, he is the FIRST OFFICER of TIME)

I support this.

[Cyros]

>Discuss the theoretical possibility of time travel.


"Theoretical?"

Where have been the past few centuries, buddy?

Everyone and their grandma knows that there is no theory. There is no question of whether time travel is or isn't possible. Because it IS. There are enough examples of time travel incidents within the past hundred years to teach ten-years worth of courses on temporal mechanics. You, the Commander, should know! It was one of your top subjects back at STARFLEET ACADEMY. And believe me, you say. It was not easy.

At all.

In fact, the first thing they teach you about time travel is that the name itself is wrong. Why? Too much time is needed to explain, and you and your Captain are on a tight schedule here.

Now you've both lost track of what you were talking about. Care to give us a little reminder?

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Well I got up early today just to experience an aborted space launch. In layman's terms, I am disappoint. At least I had a chance to update this adventure.

Plus we get our first frontward view of two of the main characters. I will admit, I am liking on how they turned out. And practicing drawing them again and again will only let me get better.

Still suck at hands, though.

[Wessolf27]

You were talking about how Captain Egbert just got himself a brand spanking new fleet.

[Kíeros]

> What type of glasses are the coolest.

[Cyros]

> Discuss what type of glasses are the coolest.


You think the the answer to that is quite obvious.

Dig the ironic shades, man.


> Debate on the existence of God.


You are now the COMMANDER, and you just remembered what you were talking about with the CAPTAIN.

Both of you were knee deep in a discussion about the existence of a higher power; GOD, if you will. And you were just about to hammer your well thought-out points of discussion home...

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Commander: So to sum up my reasoning,
Commander: The fact that a ton of humanoid females we're aware of have breasts indicates someone is at work behind the scenes.
Commander: Ie, God.
Captain: ...what?
Captain: That's just...
Captain: How does that even work?
Commander: Let me break it down for you.
Commander: You know why human females have a pair of breasts, right?
Captain: Aside from getting oogled at inappropriately?
Commander: Of course.
Captain: Well, if I recall my human biology courses...
Captain: Humans are mammals, and most mammals nurse their young after birth.
Captain: And it's been established that mammals that nurse their young have twice the number of nipples as the number of offspring they have on average.
Commander: Hence why dogs and cats have all those rows of teats.
Commander: And humans only have two.
Commander: You generally see a lady carry one bun in the oven at a time. Two under the right natural conditions.
Commander: More if you counted the fertility drug craze back in the 21st century.
Commander: But that's not part of my point.
Captain: Then tell me, Commander Cool-Guy.
Captain: Where is your philosophical discussion of God going with regards to boobs?
Commander: I direct your attention away from human chicks and toward another humanoid species.
Commander: Let's say... Cendree females.
Captain: What?
Captain: Wait a minute. I don't actually think they have-
Commander: Oh yes, yes they do.
Commander: I should know! I dated a Cendree female for six months before you were assigned to the Reynolds.
Commander: And I'll tell you this one undeniable truth;
Commander: She was stacked. Fully loaded. Photon torpedoes armed and ready.
Captain: Really now?
Captain: Then how come you never told me about her?
Commander: Didn't you want to talk about God?
Captain: Yes, but now you got me intrigued.
Captain: Tell me what happened to this mysterious Cendree lady with...
Captain: "Huge tracks of land?"
Commander: Outdated reference. Nice, nice.
Commander: Long story short, we broke it off. Well, most she broke it off. I was just like "meh" and moved on with my career.
Commander: But back on topic.
Captain: Yes, the topic that involves God and breasts somehow!
Commander: Thing is, Cendree females can have breasts too.
Commander: But the thing is, they aren't mammals. Nor do they nurse their young.
Commander: Not sure what they evolved from, actually. Something like a slug or a moth... maybe frogs?
Captain: We should consult a xenobiologist when we get a chance.
Commander: Like I said, though, Cendree don't need breasts in the same way that humans do.
Commander: But lo and behold, they have 'em. Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head, as the old song goes.
Commander: Now, let me cite one of the best examples I have for my case.
Captain: And what's that?
Commander: Trolls.
Captain: You mean Alternians.
Commander: If you want to be technical about it, yeah.
Commander: They call themselves both names anyway, so it's not racism on my part.
Captain: I almost got my head split open by calling one a troll once.
Commander: Well obviously someone was a bit of a tight-ass. Not going to bother pointing out who.
Commander: My point is, troll babes. You've seen them in space ports and in reference images. Nice bodies, very well constructed. And a lot of them are armed to the teeth.
Captain: You mean their breasts or the amount of weapons they carry?
Commander: Heh, both.
Commander: But again, I cite biological reasons for my example.
Commander: Trolls do not, by any reason, rear up their young.
Commander: They're pretty much on their own after birth.
Commander: And up until maturity, they don't even leave their birth worlds.
Commander: I wont bother you with the details of how they breed. Kind of a, pardon my French, "gross" subject.
Commander: Yet you look at a fully grown Troll female, and a pretty good chance she is going to have a massive pair of tits.
Commander: Question is, WHY?
Commander: What purpose to they serve?
Commander: Do they store acid in them or something?
Commander: Spit it out at their foes during battle?
Commander: Kind of a cool image, now that I think of it.
Captain: If they did that, then I'm glad I've never been on the receiving end of it! oo;
Commander: Nah, I'm just joking with yah.
Commander: But you have to admit, an Alternian with breasts doesn't quite make any sense.
Captain: That is a good point you have...
Captain: Still don't see how God plays into this.
Commander: It's not just the three species I just mentioned.
Commander: Lot's of humanoid females have breasts.
Commander: The reptilian humanoids of the Lyra constellation. Their born from eggs, can't even nurse their young with all those sharp teeth, but they keep sporting breasts on their females.
Commander: And those cephalapod humanoids in the Cygnus Cluster? Like a squid version of mermaids. Their women have breasts too!
Commander: And they don't even mate internally!
Commander: Could that be a coincidence too?
Captain: Probably?
Commander: You're not seeing the math here.
Commander: We have so many breast-related coincidences in this quadrant alone, and that covers about several thousand species.
Commander: And in addition to the other parts of the galaxy, AND the rest of the universe...
Commander: We'd have too many coincidences to count within forty-seven of our lifetimes.
Captain: So, what you're saying is...
Captain: That there's a God somehow involved in all of this?
Commander: Fuck the hell yes.
Commander: "And lo, God look down at his creation, and saw it was a little bland."
Commander: "So he decided to populate it with aliens up the wazoo."
Commander: "But even then, it seemed to be missing something."
Commander: "He looked upon the humanoids on all the worlds in all the galaxies."
Commander: "And he decided that the females of these worlds were lacking in the chest area."
Commander: "'I decree that these females shall be granted breasts!' said God"
Commander: "And from hence forth, woman across the universe had breasts."
Commander: "And God was pleased."
Commander: "So pleased, in fact, he took a vacation to another universe and had a bitchin' good time."
Commander: So there you have it. God created the universe. Then he gave woman breasts.
Commander: And the people rejoiced.
Captain: ...
Captain: I've heard some crazy explanations from you since we first met.
Captain: And yet every time I think you've given me the craziest.
Captain: BAM!
Captain: You up the ante and blow me away!
Captain: Is there, like, a course at the Academy for doing this?
Commander: No, but if there was, you bet your sweet behind they'd have me teach the hell out of it.
Commander: I'd be the best teacher of crazed explanations in the entire quadrant.
Commander: Probably win a few awards for it too.
Commander: Even the President would be impressed with my mad skills.
Captain: She already is! That's why you're a commander now!
Commander: She was more impressed with you, though. That's why you're the captain now.
Commander: The captain is YOU.
Commander: I just helped along the way.
Captain: Well of course I remember that!
Captain: Without your help, I'd still be, what, a plucky ensign in the biology department?
Commander: I wouldn't go that far.
Commander: At the most, you've be a junior grade lieutenant.
Captain: Heh, wow, a whole grade. I would have been living the high life!
Captain: Look at out world! Straight from an alternate reality, it's Lieutenant Junior Grade-

A beeping from the shuttle-pod's console indicates an incoming transmission. It looks like the two of you have reached your destination.

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That's about it for this weekend; enjoy!

[Wessolf27]

>Prepare to dock.

[The One Guy]

> Sweaping cinematic pan over new starship.

[Kíeros]

> Make last second preparations needed.

[Snowyowl]

Dave, I am ever so slightly disappointed. You were this close to realising you exist in a parody-crossover science fiction story based on the number of tropes you see in action around you, and then you go and bring God into this mess.

Your reasoning is correct, of course. And I'm sure the Star Trek writers don't mind being taken for gods at all.

[The One Guy]

Is a writer not, in a sense, a god in relation to the settings they create?

[Cyros]

Is a writer not, in a sense, a god in relation to the settings they create?

Given the crap I've seen authors and writers put their creations through, we're probably not very good at being deities.

Or we are, but we're just dicks about it.

[Cyros]

> Prepare to dock.


You make your approach to Lagrange One Station as your commander opens the com channel.

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Conn Officer: This is Lagrange One Control Center to incoming shuttle-pod, please acknowledge and identify.
Commander: We read you loud and clear, Langrange One, this is Earth shuttle-pod "Biznasty", on approach.
Conn Officer: Uh...
Conn Officer: I'm sorry, sir? Please repeat your last statement?
Commander: I hope you remembered to clean out your ears this morning, son.
Commander: Cause I already said, this is the Earth shuttle-pod "Biznasty", registry number "100% Fine", on approach.
Commander: Ready and willing for some sweet, sweet docking to-NIGHT.
Commander: Do you hear me, son? Is this communication band calibrated the right way?
Conn Officer: ... ... ...
Commander: I see the concept of irony is lost on officers these days.
Commander: Seriously though, this IS the shuttle-pod "Biznasty," en route from Earth to Lagrange One.
Commander: Captain Egbert and Commander Strider acknowledging, and requesting clearance to dock.
Commander: Do you copy?
Conn Officer: ... ... ...
Conn Officer: S-seriously? Your shuttle-pod is called-
Captain: Lagrange One Control, this is Captain Egbert speaking.
Captain: To answer your question, yes, that is, amazingly enough, the name of our transport.
Captain: But more importantly we wish to gain clearance for docking aboard our new vessel.
Captain: I'm told that the admiralty was quite hoping for us to get under way by 1200 hours.
Captain: And I don't believe a discussion of my First Officer's penance for naming shuttle-pods is going to help in that regard.
Conn Officer: S-sorry, sir, Captain, sir. Getting clearance for you both now...
Conn Officer: Done. Your... shuttle-pod has been ID'd and cleared. You may begin your approach when ready.
Commander: Hot damn. Let's get this nasty business underway. Nice, slow and tight now.
Conn Officer: Uh...
Captain: Alright, that's quite enough. No need to tease the station's Conn Officer.
Captain: You can do that as much as you like once we get to meet our new crew!
Conn Officer: Captain, you... still have an open channel.
Captain: What? Oh, crap.
Commander: Smooth.
Commander: Hey, Lagrange! Care to let us know which shuttle bay is available on the station?
Conn Officer: Actually, sirs...
Conn Officer: I've received word that they've prepped both shuttle bays on the NICOLAS for your approach.
Conn Officer: You can proceed to dock at any time.
Commander: Bitch'in.
Commander: By which I mean, "Acknowledged, Commander Strider out."
Commander: Beep.
Captain: I hope you're not going to do that every time you close a channel or press a button.
Commander: Only when you and I are alone.
Commander: All snuggled up in a blanket, watching one of your classic 20th-century horror B-movies...
Captain: Flattering, but you know that fraternization between a captain and his dashing-young commander is generally frowned upon.
Captain: Oh, and more importantly I'm not attracted to guys.
Commander: Oh, don't be so close-minded.
Commander: Have you ever even tried it?
Captain: Have you?
Commander: Touché.
Captain: Alright, Commander, you're piloting this ship. Bring us in. "Nice, slow and tight," as you might say.
Commander: You're still learning. I like that.
Commander: So, which shuttle bay should we land in?
Commander: Primary hull or engineering hull?

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> Sweaping cinematic pan over new starship.

Sorry, no exterior shots of the ship yet. I still have to get my sense of perspective with a little more practice. But hey, I gave you the name of the ship! That should hold you all over.

Also a bit of a style change (smaller outlines) on this panel. Be sure to expect them as I learn and learn all over again.

And as always, comments and discussions welcome. Oh, and commands. Can't have an adventure without those. ...or CAN YOU?

[Kíeros]

> Engineering. Nothing ever goes wrong there.

[pimudragonfeline]

>Engineering to get a feel for the ship.

[Wessolf27]

>Let's get to Engineering. At the very least just so that you know who to blame when the ship goes bad.

[Cyros]

> Land in the secondary shuttle bay

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Captain: I'd like to get a feel for the ship before we depart Lagrange One.
Captain: Set a landing solution for the lower shuttle bay, Commander.
Commander: Yes, sir.
Commander: Don't think I'll ever get use to saying that.
Captain: Well maybe I'm still not use to hearing it.
Captain: Ever think of that?
Commander: I think of a lot of things.
Captain: Like how boobs relate to God?
Commander: Fuck the hell yes.
Commander: But that's just the tip of the cosmic iceberg.
Commander: Alright, let's land this thing already.
Commander: Before I get an ass-cramp.
Captain: I'll... just pretend I didn't hear that.

==>


Clear the landing zone, people!

Starfleet officers inbound!

==>


Steady as she goes...

Almost... almost...

==>


There we go.

==>


Welcome home, boys.

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I made most of the panels in this update just today. Animated all of them on a whim. Enjoyed every second of it too.

Achievements Unlocked:
~Straight Flush~ Update using five panels
~Still Life Is For Suckers~ Update with all panels animated
~Patience Is A Virtue~ Create a panel with at least 20 frames

And don't feel bad if I didn't use your suggestions; basically I DO use them, but not always directly. Dialogue can be influenced by commands (note the Captain's speech), and even then the commands can be reworded to fit with the adventure as I see fit.

There's my commentary for the update. Now let's keep going with this thing!

[pimudragonfeline]

>Proceed like the awesome people you are.

[Kíeros]

> Walk out in a style meant to both intimidate and show off.

[Wessolf27]

> Walk out in a style meant to both intimidate and show off.

^Suddenly get interrupted by a loudmouth angry jerkface.

[CJ Miller]

> Blue-blooded elf chicks: Happen

[pimudragonfeline]

>John immediately greet fellow crew-member by pranking them.

[HexMix]

> Engineer: Be Equius

[hristy]

> Party at Quarks