USS Tokyo Celebrates 10 Years!

Posted on Fri Jan 3rd, 2025 @ 1:12am by Captain Taiga Aisaka
Edited on Fri Jan 3rd, 2025 @ 1:15am

10 Years!

Yes, you read that correctly!

Today marks the founding of the USS Tokyo, which was Ten Years ago today! In all honesty, I never thought that this ship would last ten years. It is a milestone that few Star Trek Sims/RPG's ever hit. The average life of a Star Trek sim is 4-5 years, so hitting 10 is remarkable.

Hitting this milestone is not just a testiment to the ship, but also to its crew and every single one of you. I often describe this ship as a home, and a family and we have now some of us have been together for ten years. Of course we've lost people as we go, as any Sim would, but we have gained too.

So, I wanted to take a moment to tell you how this ship came around. Somoe of you may be wondering "How did this ship start? Where did it start? How have we reached ten years?"

Well, let me tell you...

USS Tokyo Sim History

Ten Years ago, I had just returned to my University home after spending a disaster of a Christmas at home. At the time I had only one Command, that being the USS Missouri (Which is now Starbase Frontier). This was also when I started to watch an Anime called 'Toradora' for the first time.

I instantly fell in love with the character of Taiga Aisaka. She was a strong character, but below the hard exterior was a soft and delicate young woman. It reminded me of Star Trek. Especially the hardships she faced, the challenges she overcame and that gave me an idea. I wanted to start a new sim, a second command with a character based upon her.

So thats what I did.

At the time I was friends with someone who was a Task Force Commanding Officer over in Pegasus Fleet. So, I had a chat with him. In a matter of three hours, we had set up a website and he had pre-approved the Tokyo into Pegasus Fleet.

At that time also, I had just purchased the 'Armitage Class Carrier Escort' in the video game, Star Trek Online. Safe to say that I loved the design of it. It was based upon the popular Akira Class, but was more modern and updated. So, on a whim, I decided that I would try something new, something I had never done before. A class of Starship brand new to the Simming Community. The Armitage Class.

I worked on the specs for the Tokyo, manually counting the decks on the model in Star Trek Online and sitting it next to other Canon Ships to get an approximation of its size. I also added updated weapons, shields and Starfighters. I wanted this ship to be run as a Carrier which was something I had never done before.

So there I was. A short short tempered captain in one hand, and a state of the art Carrier starship in one. I put them together and the Tokyo was born! What I wasn't expecting was not just a Star Trek Sim, but one that would change not only the way I write, but how I see Star Trek as a whole.

Season 1

So, Season 1 started. To say that it started with a bang was an unerstatement! Lets take a look at those early Tokyo Missions!



Going back I laugh at just how cringy some of these posts were. However, I decided that the Tokyo itself was never meant to be Taiga's. She was never meant to be in command originally. Infact it was a matter of circumstance that she gained command, and the Tokyo itself had been a complete failure in its space trials. However, Taiga somehow managed to get the ship out of spacedock and start our adventure!



Mission two saw the Tokyo hunting down a smuggling ring who were responsible for contraband crossing the Romulan Neutral Zone. We discovered that it was actually a Tal Shiar operation after playing 'Trojan Horse' with a captured freighter. This is also where we saw Taiga's more violent side as she not only blew upo the freighter inside a Romulan Starbase, but killed the Romulan commander to escape. Safe to say, this was an action packed fist mission!



Tensions escalated as it followed into our next mission. Not only were the Tal Shiar smuggling illegal contraband to Federation colonies, but this Starbase was experimenting with Borg Technology. And of course, in true Star Trek Style, the Borg managed to get aboard the Tokyo. Much like they did in Star Trek First Contact, they began to assimilate the ship and its crew. So the Tokyo crew fought against them, but not before the ships Exec at the time, Jennifer Daxer was assimilated. This is also where we learn that the Admiral knew this all along, but wanted the Tokyo to be destroyed with hopes of enticing a war. We also learn that Taiga had been pregnant, but had miscarried due to being shot whilst being transported in the earlier mission. This mission was short, but had a lot of action and a lot of emotional writing. This mission also saw the Introduction of the USS Yamato, commanded by Captain Kaede Kayano, which six months later would become another fully fledged sim.

Its at this time that the Tokyo left Pegasus Fleet and went Independent for nearly a year. Also at the time I was between emplyment, so simming took a back seat. However after nearly of a year of slow writing and independence, USS Tokyo joined Theta Fleet where is still remains today in Area 51.



Mission 4 saw the Tokyo assigned away from the Romulan border. A fresh change for the crew. Only for us to be sucked into some sort of space between universes. There we met the mirror universe versions of ourselves. Of course, Terrans and Starfleet don't mix. So a civil-war against ourselves broke out. However after much fighting and several gory character deaths we manage to come an understanding. Captain Aisaka and Captain Aisaka call a truce. Only for the Mirror Aisaka to be taken out by a half Borg Intelligence Officer. It is yet unknown if she will ever return, and if she does will she remember what happened here?



Demons in the dark was possibly one of our darkest and scariest missions we have ever done on the Tokyo. After being ordered to recover intelligence data from the lost USS Cassandra, we bring back some form of alien virus. It traps us in our very own nightmares and horrors. We have to not only did the Tokyo itself start to fail on us, system by system, but the crew had to overcome our own fears and phobias. We got to see a side to every member of the crew that we usually don't see in this mission. It was a lot of fun to write, but we managed to pull through it.

That brings us to Season 2, which is the season we are now nearing completion.

Season 2



Season 2 started with the return of the Elachi. I took the Elachi from Star Trek Online and Star Trek Enterprise and turned them into what would become Season 2's main antagonist. The Tokyo responded to a distress call from Alvatar Colony which was in Romulan Space. It turned out that the entire attack was a lure and the Tokyo unfortunately took the bait. Of course after fighting off 'The Aliens' soon to be revealed as Elachi the Tokyo is framed for the attack, which accidently lead to the Tokyo's first ever three parter!



Of course, Captain Aisaka was arrested and the Tokyo held for its crimes. This mission saw the trial of Captain Aisaka, which turned out to all be a massive plot against Starfleet. This is also where we meet Admiral Miyahara, who was not only corrupt but had a vendetta against Starfleet. It should be noted that this mission saw the introduction of the USS Myogi and soon became a sim of its own. It also started a rivalry between Captains Aisaka and Captains Takahashi of the Tokyo and Myogi. However the Myogi, also now a fully fledged sim and a sister sim to the Tokyo is still going and is doing well. (Go check them out here!)



Until recently, Operation Romulus Return was our longest mission! This is where the Tokyo now cleared of all charges was to return the Romulan ambassador back to the Romulan senate to prove that the Tal Shiar was responsible for the attack on Alvatar colony. Of course, the Tal Shiar were teamed up with the Elachi and ambushed us en route. The Tokyo along with the USS Armitage and USS Oceania were crippled and boarded. We had to fight them off and retake our ship. This is also the mission where the USS Oceania under command of Captain Yuri Nakamura was destroyed with all hands lost. We saw devestation, death and destruction at the hands of the Tal Shiar. We were only saved using clever tricks and the Romulan Navy showing up to save us. Its an action packed mission, but we overcame it. It did however result in the Tokyo having to be towed back to a fleet yards for repairs.



With our ship more or less out of commission. Starfleet decided to refit the Tokyo. It saw us with three weeks of shoreleave to kill! So in true Starfleet style we took a trip to Risa. There we played games, had fun on the beach and finally after many years witnessed the marriage of Taiga and Ryuuji! This mission was all character development, but it brought us together as a crew. We also got to see many new characters and see relationships blossom. It is still one of my favourite missions from the entire saga we have written so far!



With the ship now refitted, we set off again! This time with the crew we have currently. We had to rescue the Gamma Zadnor station which was falling out of orbit. The station was an annex of Starfleet Academy and failing to stay in orbit of the planet. Can you believe that this mission was planned to be a short 'back to the grind' sort of mission. Yet you guys turned it into so much more. I am going to be honest, I never thought that Commander Johnson would blow up the entire station! Safe to say, we had a lot of fun with this one and it was the mission that established every player who is here today!



What do I say about this one... Well, I think the only thing I can say is... Holy hell what a ride! This mission just like 'Descent' was planned to be a quick stop gap mission. It turned into our longest mission ever! We set ship records with this one. You guys were awesome in this one, throwing ideas at me left right and center. We crashed the Tokyo on a planet and had to get back to space was all I really gave you. You guys took that and ran with it! Before I knew it we had raiders, another crashed Federation ship, an old relic from Starfleet History on our doorstep and unique and imaginative ways of escaping the planet. Eventually we escpaed the planet and we even saw another wedding or long lost star crossed lovers. This mission today still boggles me and makes me proud. I loved how you took this mission and basically ran with it all the way to the bank and back!

That leaves us at our current mission.



So I decided we needed a good mission for the Season 2 Finale (Spoilers). So here we are attempting to rescue Captain Nakamura who was presumed dead from an Elachi 'Nursery'. Currently we're playing on Science Fiction horror and thriller themes and I'm loving every moment of it! Keep up the fantastic work!

Stats!

Ok, its only fair that now that we're hitting ten years I take a look back at what we've actually accomplished in ten years! So here are some statistics for those who might be interested. Ten years is a long time and we have done all this!

Overall Post Entries: 726! (This averages at 6 posts every month for 10 years, and 1.5 posts per week for the last 10 years!)
Overall Total Word Count: 939,601 (Thats nearly DOUBLE of Tolkien's Trilogy 'Lord of The Rings' at 480,000 words and nearly ALL of JK Rowling Harry Potter Series at 1,084,170 words!)
Total Characters: 128
Total Players: 41

Pretty Impressive for a little Star Trek RPG Sim! Looking at these numbers just makes me feel so warm and proud of everyone who had been involved with the Tokyo!

Awards

Since Joining Theta Fleet, the Tokyo has recieved awards for its posting and its players. I am always happy to proudly show the awards on the site as they are not for me, but for you. To show anyone who looks that you guys are fantastic players and people!

Over our time in Theta Fleet we have achieved 135 different awards!

Go check them out on our main page or here!


Favourites!

Ok, so its only fair that I choose my top five favourite posts of the last ten years! Trust me, this was more of a mission than you think!

Number 5!

Unexpected News

The first ever post of the USS Tokyo! I consider this a 'Classic'! Although looking back I have seen just how far we've all come from this little opening post to our journey. Back then, I only had Taiga and Ryuuji, this was posted before anyone actually joined!

Number 4

Facing Her Majesty

Ryuuji faces off against an Assimilated Jennifer Daxer. I just love how much Ryuuji trusts Taiga in this and how he knows full well that she's not coming down to rescue him, but also to put the assimilated Daxer in her place. Overall its a damn good post, short but sweet and effective.

Number 3

The New Kids on the Flight Deck (Part 1), The New Kids on the Flight Deck (Part 2) & The New Kids on the Flight Deck (Part 3)

This three parter introduces many brand new characters who are all coming aboard the Tokyo for the first time. Their interactions are wonderful to see. As replacement crew for the crew that Tokyo lost in the previous mission, this was a breath of fresh air for the ship. Also, each and every one of these new characters became essential to the ship and all now have their own complex development and story arcs! I love re-reading this one!

Number 2

Our Future, Together

These two have been hitting it off for months on the ship. It was nice to see these two finally starting to get comfortable with each other. The writing is not only entertaining but sincere and also funny. I love how these two interact and the little jokes they pull on each other. This relationship not only blossomed, but was built up steadily over time just like the real thing!

Number 1!

Taiga's Little Miracle

So, in this post Taiga finds out that she is pregnant! Of course this is my favourite for many reasons. Taiga lost her first child after being shot during mid-transport and she has found it difficult ever since to concieve. It is a problem most young couples face on a daily basis and it is a painful and emotional thing to be going through. Many years all that Taiga has wanted was to have her own family. So when she found out she fell pregnant on her wedding night, she is naturally shocked, excited but also happy. So this is a character arc I've been playing for ten years now! So I am so happy it ended this way!


Conclusion

If you've read this far then well done!

Finally, I just want to say a few final words to sum this all up. I have been running this sim for the past ten years, but it has been much more than just a Star Trek Sim. It has got me through some hard times and good times. I have seen people come and go, and see people return. At times the Tokyo has frustrated me, but at times its delighted me. I can only thankyou all for being part of this incredible journey! We have endured ten years together, and I look forward to writing something similar again in another ten years!

Now, to finalise.

Thankyou, and congratulations! Now, raise a glass and give yourself a pat on the back! You've deserved it!

Here's to Ten Years of the USS Tokyo!

Captain Taiga Aisaka

 

Category: Sim Announcement

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