Intelligence Office Policy
From Bravo Fleet
Canon Policy
Last Update: March 5, 2021
Section 1 - Defining Fleet Canon
- Bravo Fleet canon comes from two-sources: on-screen Star Trek (defined as official Star Trek films and television programs) storytelling and original canon developed within Bravo Fleet.
- Everything in Star Trek on-screen canon is considered canon to Bravo Fleet, so long as it was originally created for Star Trek.
- If on-screen sources directly contradict each other, the more recent source, measured by air date, takes precedence.
- Original Bravo Fleet canon consists of material created specifically for Bravo Fleet. The process for creating new original Bravo Fleet canon varies based on the nature of the canon.
- Minor canon/story elements like pre-warp and early warp species and small direct continuations of stories can be freely written in a game or fiction as part of its ongoing narrative. It may be submitted to the Lore Office to be added to the Bravo Fleet canon. Until that point, other games and fictions are not bound to adhere to this content.
- Significant changes to Task Force stories must be approved by the Loremaster.
- New Federation member worlds or minor foreign powers with regional influence must be approved by the Loremaster.
- Significant development to on-screen species or cultures must be approved by the Loremaster.
- New Federation starship classes must be approved by the Bravo Fleet Loremaster.
- No addition to Bravo Fleet canon is considered official until it has completed all approval requirements and been added to the Bravo Fleet wiki in a format that provides complete, usable information that others may build on. These articles will be clearly identified as Bravo Fleet canon.
- Sources other than on-screen canon and original Bravo Fleet canon are not considered canon within Bravo Fleet, though they can be used as inspiration. Novels, production notes, published technical manuals, video games, and all other non-screen Star Trek content are not canon to Bravo Fleet.
- If new on-screen canon contradicts established Bravo Fleet canon, the Bravo Fleet canon will be re-written or retconned to comply.
- Individual games and fictions are required to follow Bravo Fleet canon; their stories may involve new additions but must not contradict or deviate from Bravo Fleet canon. Bravo Fleet is a cooperative writing group, and its strength comes from bringing people together to tell stories.
- The canon and canon policy applies to games and fictions in the Historical group of the Holodeck. They are part of the shared universe of the Bravo Fleet canon, set in different eras.
- Games and fictions in the Myriad Universes or Non-Trek groups of the Holodeck have no relation to the Bravo Fleet canon, and each exists within a unique setting in adherence to their original game or fiction proposal.
Section 2 - Timeline
The Bravo Fleet timeline advances one year for every two years that pass. The in-character year will advance on January 1 of each even-numbered year. The timeline may be advanced immediately by the Bravo Fleet Loremaster.
Section 3 - Bravo Fleet Wiki
- The wiki will be maintained by the Lore Office.
- All members may contribute to the Bravo Fleet Wiki, making additions in adherence to the definitions of Fleet canon in Section 1.
- Articles that are part of Bravo Fleet canon will be clearly labeled confirming their content has been approved by the Lore Office.
- Articles not labeled should refer to a game or fiction’s personal canon and must remain small-scale story elements in adherence to Section 1. Bravo Fleet members may choose but are not bound to adhere to this content.
- Content on the wiki is In Character unless specified otherwise.
Section 4 - Fiction
Section 4.1 - Defining Fictions
- Fictions are stories written by members, individually or in collaboration with others, that take place within Fleet canon. They are distinct from writing groups (also known as games or sims, and which fall under the purview of the Operations Department) in that they do not require a registry item on the BFMS or their own website.
- Fiction is written on Relay Station Bravo or linked to from a ship page or member’s dossier on BFMS. This fiction is set within fleet canon.
- Each Task Force has a designated area on the forum for members under the rank of Lieutenant Commander to write, generally as part of their task force’s headquarters starbase. This writing is free-form and offers members a venue to express themselves and participate in fleet canon before they have their own ship.
- A member who has reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander with a ship of their own (as per 4.6 of the Operations Policy) may write fiction set within fleet canon based around this starship.
- Other fiction may be written after a submitted proposal is accepted by the Lore Office.
Section 4.2 - Fiction Proposals
- A member who has reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander may submit a fiction proposal to the Lore Office. This is not necessary for fiction based on their avatar ship.
- The proposal should explain the premise of the story, a loose estimation of expected length, and what it contributes to Bravo Fleet canon, present or historic.
- Proposals for fictions set on Starfleet ships in 2399 will require a concept distinguishing them from fiction on a member’s avatar ship which, as above, do not require a proposal submission.
Section 5 - Ship Registry
Section 5.1 - Registry Definition
- The registry lists all starships, starbases, and other entities available to Bravo Fleet for use as avatar ships or games.
- The registry’s purpose is to maintain consistency across Bravo Fleet and its ongoing canon. As such, entries will not be added to, removed, or altered from the registry without permission of the Lore Office.
- The registry represents the In Character starships available to the Fourth Fleet in 2399, and the starships available for games and avatar ships.
- Exceptions such as starbases, non-Starfleet ships, or ships of a different era exist solely to be used by Games. These will be more often added, deleted, or altered.
- The use of registry entries in games is governed by Section 4 of the Operations Policy.
Section 5.2 - Avatar Ships
- Avatar Ships are attached to a member's dossiers as their character's starship. They are the vessels assigned In Character to a member’s Task Force in the Fourth Fleet in 2399.
- When a member reaches the rank of Lieutenant Commander they may request a ship on the registry for use as their Avatar Ship. Ship classes available are restricted by rank.
- At Lieutenant Commander, a member shall have access to the following starship classes: Ambassador, Argonaut, Atlantia, California, Centaur, Challenger, Cheyenne, Diligent, Dumont, Excelsior, Freedom, New Orleans, Norway, Nova, Parliament, Reliant, Saber, Springfield, Steamrunner.
- At Commander, a member shall have access to all classes available at Lieutenant Commander as well as the following: Akira, Defiant, Elysion, Inquiry, Intrepid, Luna, Nebula, Olympic, Resolute, Rhode Island.
- At Captain, a member shall have access to all classes available at Lieutenant Commander and Commander, as well as the following: Century, Galaxy, Manticore, Odyssey, Prometheus, Sovereign, Typhon, Vesta.
- Avatar ships will be removed from a member's dossier upon transfer to the Reserves.