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The StarFleet Naval Service Entertainment Network [NSEN]StarFleet vessels visit many systems in the course of their missions. Between weeks in sub-space, endless patrols, and mapping details, crews need entertainment. Trivids and other stored media are available on all ships, but given the small amount of data storage devoted to entertainment on military vessels, they can rapidly get stale. New entertainment material is obviously not a high priority for transport vessel space, and few active duty vessels can afford to go out of their way just to download a new show. Most of the worlds of the Federation have their own entertainment networks, and the ships' sensors and comm arrays can obviously pick up most of them. However, many of these worlds also have vociferous anti-Federation factions and liberal broadcasting laws, and StarFleet command is aware that certain footage could negatively impact morale if seen unedited. The StarFleet Naval Service Entertainment Network (NSEN) falls under the auspices of StarFleet Intelligence. Their personnel are trained at screening information, and they value a good, official reason to monitor broadcasts from member worlds. But the NSEN is more than just a listening and editing service for SI; it is given a fair amount of autonomy, and even produces its own news and entertainment shows. Permanent NSEN facilities, stationed in a number of systems, can catch downloads from every passing transport. NSEN proctors are usually stationed at a planet's high port, and a proctor is also posted aboard the flagship of a StarFleet task force. These agents monitor broadcasts, retransmitting edited versions -- often within 30 minutes, although in high-traffic areas delays can run to several hours. While the NSEN is called "No-sin" for its censorship, there are few complaints about the lack of commercials. All shows are available in Galanglic, and other languages are frequently supported. StarFleet vessels and military posts are required to filter all local broadcasts through NSEN channels. However, the NSEN by no means controls everything Federal forces see and hear. Ground forces can rent local entertainment or visit native facilities. Scout captains tend to be less than rigid about enforcing NSEN regulations, often on the grounds that access to unedited local information is important to their mission. StarFleet communications operators have been known to use their gear to bypass NSEN and sell uncensored local material to their shipmates -- until the CO finds out. Vessels that are too small to accommodate an NSEN monitor will assign this duty to the Comms Officer, or to the commander himself. Of course, the degree of adherence to regulations will depend on the particular officer. Channels The number of channels available varies from system to system, but the following channels are found on all NSEN tuners. Channel 1: NSEN News Service. Cynically called "Propaganda Prime", this channel provides news coverage from across the Federation. It is known for its "happy news," and it can run weeks or even months behind other news media. Channel 2: Training Channel. This channel airs general training programs, including any mandatory courses issued by StarFleet command -- to address behavioral or safety issues, for example. The "Channel 2 Blues" is a service term for the frustration that arises when personnel are required to spend excessive amounts of their free time watching these training videos. Channel 3: Marine Channel. The Marines take great pride in their history, and this channel shows many documentaries on the United Federation Marines and the StarFleet, as well as classic war movies. Channel 4: NSEN Productions. This channel airs the shows produced by the NSEN itself. Most are documentaries and situation comedies, but two shows are surprisingly popular. Ship of the Line is an historical action-adventure series based on the adventures of an early Federation starship, the USS Intrepid, during the foundation of the Federation, and Shopelli: Bushmaster is a comedy about an Federation diplomat and his naval attaché on a balkanized world with over 200 conflicting nations. Both have received recognition outside the NSEN. Channel 5: Sports Channel. With 150 members and over 1000 colony worlds, the Federation has plenty of sports. While coverage is often as late as the news, this channel is still popular. Channels 6 and above are usually reserved for local stations, with content filtered by NSEN. The lower-numbered channels are generally assigned to local news and educational programs, while the higher ones are assigned to more entertainment-oriented channels. The NSEN makes specific channel assignments on a per system basis. Channel 903 has an odd reputation for secret or mysterious transmissions. At least one crewmember on any ship knows someone who was on a ship that caught a glimpse of some phenomenon or secret transmission on channel 903. These stories can involve anything from alien glyphs and Klingon interrogations to compromising pictures of some highly placed official's daughter. Such stories are utter nonsense -- officially, channel 903 is unassigned -- but it doesn't prevent people from trying to tune into it. |
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