USS 
A message from the Commanding Officer
G'day, and welcome aboard the USS Typhon.
The USS Typhon is a chapter of STARFLEET International (SFI), a real-world community for Star Trek fans. You do not need to know how the wider organisation works to find your place here. Whether this is your first fan chapter or you have been part of STARFLEET for years, I am glad you are aboard. We come together because we enjoy Star Trek, but what makes the Typhon worth being part of is the people, the friendships we build, the ideas we share and the ways we look out for one another.
There is no single right way to be part of this crew. You might enjoy events, creative projects, online activities or helping behind the scenes. You might have plenty of time to contribute, or only a little. Work, family, health and life outside the chapter come first. Join in when you can, and please let us know if we can help you find a way to participate that suits you.
STARFLEET groups its chapters into geographic regions. The Typhon belongs to Region 11, also called the 11th Fleet, which brings together chapters across Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Oceania. We currently serve as the region's flagship, helping connect and support that wider community. That role matters, but it does not change what I want for our crew: a welcoming chapter where you can find your place and enjoy being here. You can learn more in STARFLEET International.
I hope you will get to know your fellow crewmembers, ask questions, share your ideas and have fun. If you need a hand, start with your Department Chief or speak with another member of Command Staff. You are welcome to speak with me directly when you need to.
Welcome aboard,
Admiral Greg Mortensen
Commanding Officer, USS Typhon
Regional Coordinator, 11th Fleet (Australia and New Zealand)
The name and the ship
Our ship is the USS Typhon, pronounced TIE-fawn (rhymes with “siphon”), not the USS Typhoon, pronounced tie-FOON. The names are close for a reason. In Greek mythology, Typhon was a giant, serpentine figure associated with fierce winds and storms. The English word typhoon has a complicated history that may include the Greek word typhōn, meaning whirlwind. It was also shaped by words for powerful storms in other languages. When someone calls us the Typhoon, they are making an understandable mistake, but our ship's name points to the mythic figure rather than the weather.
From Tydirium to Typhon
Our chapter spent more than a decade as the USS Tydirium, pronounced TIE-DEER-REE-UM, not “ter-rid-dee-um”. That name reflected the people who helped start the chapter. Several were also members of the 501st Legion, and the name drew on a ship from Star Wars. It belonged to a particular time in our history and to the interests of the founding crew.
As the chapter changed, those original connections changed too. The founding members who shared that interest moved on, while the crew continued building a chapter centred on Star Trek. We decided that our ship needed a name that better reflected who we had become. Moving away from a name associated with another franchise also allowed us to develop an identity that felt more distinctly our own.
We also wanted the transition to respect what the crew had built over the years. Choosing Typhon kept the familiar “Ty” at the start of our name. We could continue using TheTy.org, our existing email addresses and the contact details people already knew. That continuity made it easier for crewmembers and established contacts to find us, even as the name on the ship changed. For many people the transition has been subtle, which is what we hoped for. We could move towards an identity of our own without losing touch with the community we had already built.
We have been the USS Typhon for roughly three years. The chapter itself turns 15 in December 2026. The change of name did not erase the years aboard the Tydirium. You may still find that name in older photographs, posts, graphics and other chapter material. Those are part of our history, and the Typhon carries the people, work and memories of that earlier chapter forward.
The story in our emblem
Our current emblem keeps the hexagonal outline of the Tydirium logo. The outline gives a subtle suggestion of a Starfleet delta. In the older logo, the delta was more obvious. The shape connects the two identities and recognises that changing the ship's name did not mean starting the chapter again.
Three stars on the left represent the three stars in the United Federation of Planets flag. Five stars on the right represent the Southern Cross, a connection to our home in Australia and New Zealand. The blue background suggests the transition from atmosphere into space.
Inside the original Tydirium emblem was an artistic version of the upside-down Y shape associated with Shuttle Tydirium. That central design was divided into three parts as a nod to the Prometheus class. The background also represented the three Starfleet divisions. Those details helped establish the three-part theme that still runs through our ship's imagery.
The three-headed creature at the centre of the Typhon emblem is our interpretation of the mythic figure. It is not a claim that every ancient depiction gave Typhon exactly three heads. Here, the three heads take up the visual thread carried by the old emblem. They also reflect our Prometheus-class ship's multi-vector assault mode, in which the vessel can separate into three sections that operate together.
The heads carry red, gold and blue, the three Starfleet division colours represented in the emblem. Each colour has its place, just as crewmembers bring different interests and skills aboard. The three heads form one design and the ship's three sections remain one vessel. For our chapter, the emblem represents a crew that can take on different roles while working together and supporting one another.
Life aboard the Typhon
The rest of this chapter is a starting point for finding your place aboard. It covers what we value, how to keep your roster details current and where to turn for help.
Our starting principle: Real life comes first. Treat each other with respect, make space for different interests and abilities, and help keep the Typhon welcoming.
What brings us together
Our shared interest in Star Trek gives us a starting point. We value compassion, care for people and the environment, curiosity, and the chance to learn and improve together. These ideals shape the way we welcome newcomers, support one another and take part in the wider community.
Some crew enjoy conventions and displays. Others prefer creative projects, online activities, learning, helping behind the scenes or simply keeping in touch. Contributions can take many forms, and no one has to do everything.
Your welcome email and roster
Your welcome aboard email from the USS Typhon Database contains your assignment details, roster login instructions and a link to your Starfleet Billet Orders. If you have already followed those steps, you are ready to explore the rest of the manual. If you have not, now is a good time to return to the email, sign in to the ship's roster and check that your details are up to date.
Your login name is the email address you used to register, and your password is the one you created during registration. If you have forgotten it, you can reset your password. You can download or print your Billet Orders for your records using the link in your welcome email. That link is intended for your own assignment, so do not share it as a general link for other crewmembers.
Once you are in the roster, check your account details and crew photo. Your profile also has space for an in-universe character, if you would like to create one. The dashboard gives you access to chapter announcements, events and attendance, points and rank information, and crew utilities. It is a place to connect with fellow crewmembers and Command Staff.
If your welcome email has not arrived, or you have trouble accessing the roster, contact Command Staff. For questions about your role, department or day-to-day activities, start with your Department Chief. If your Chief is unavailable, Command Staff can help. You do not need to share more personal information than the roster requires.
Your roster profile and character
Your roster profile brings together different parts of your Typhon experience. It shows your assignment and position and may display your STARFLEET membership record, awards, rank history, uniforms and event photos. These are separate from the character biography and personality fields, where you can describe an in-universe identity aboard the ship. Your rank history records actual promotions. A character's backstory is a creative account, not a record of appointments or awards.
Creating a character and taking part in roleplay are optional. If you enjoy the creative side, you can begin with a few details and develop your character over time. For ideas on using the Character Bio and Personality fields, and on keeping fiction separate from your recorded service, read Character Profiles.
Staying on the roster
If you joined the Typhon at an event, please follow the instructions in your welcome email and stay in touch so we know you still want to be part of the crew. You do not have to attend every activity. We welcome members who are not registered with STARFLEET International, but if someone joins and then never responds or gets involved, Command Staff may remove them from the ship's roster during a membership review. This helps us keep an accurate record of who is still with us.
Members who maintain a current STARFLEET International membership are treated differently: a quiet calendar year by itself is not a reason to remove them from the Typhon roster. If you need to take a break, you do not have to explain your personal circumstances. Let your Department Chief or Command Staff know when you can, especially if you hold a role that others rely on. See Membership for more about taking part in the Typhon and the wider Fleet.
Keeping in touch
We use Facebook and Discord to stay connected between activities, with most day-to-day chapter conversation happening in our private Facebook group. If you are a Typhon member and have a Facebook account, request access to the private Typhon Facebook group so you can follow discussions and take part. Let Command Staff know if your request needs attention. You can also join the Typhon Discord server for another way to connect with crewmembers.
Our private crew spaces: The Facebook group and Discord server are places where Typhon members can talk about chapter activities, plans, ideas and projects before we are ready to share them more widely. All Typhon members are welcome, whether or not they are also members of STARFLEET International. Please do not invite non-members or pass along discussions, plans or material from these spaces without checking with Command Staff first. If we choose to share an idea or project with another chapter, we will do so deliberately. Command Staff may approve a vetted guest when there is a good reason for them to join.
Our public Facebook page is for sharing the Typhon with the wider community. It is separate from the private crew spaces, so following the public page does not give you access to the private Facebook group or Discord server. If you do not use Facebook or Discord, speak with your Department Chief or Command Staff about how to keep up with chapter news and activities.
Uniforms and events
The USS Typhon's preferred uniform is the Star Trek: Picard Season 2 & 3 flap-style uniform. Wearing it together gives our crew a consistent look at displays and events, and we encourage members to wear it when they can. You are also welcome to join us in another Starfleet uniform or a Star Trek-related costume. You do not need the preferred uniform to take part in ordinary chapter activities.
At Sydney Oz Comic Con, Saturday has historically been our biggest crew day. We take a “Flaps Only” group photo for those wearing the matching flap-style uniform and a “Plethora of Trek” photo for all members in their chosen Starfleet uniform or Star Trek-related costume. The second photo welcomes crew from every Trek era and look, including Borg, Ferengi, Klingon and Romulan costumes. On Sunday, members can wear a Starfleet uniform or Star Trek-related costume from any part of Star Trek. See Uniforms for the full event guidance and group-photo arrangements.
Finding your place
You can explore the departments, speak with a Chief and see which activities interest you. Your first choice does not have to define your whole time aboard. The Departments and Department Transfers chapters can help you find a good fit.
If you have not already done so, these are good first steps:
- Check your welcome email, sign in to the roster and review your assignment.
- Get to know your Department Chief and fellow crewmembers.
- Check your account details and crew photo. If you enjoy the creative side, explore Character Profiles.
- Request access to the private Typhon Facebook group if you use Facebook, and join the Typhon Discord server if you would like to.
- Look through chapter announcements and activities, and join those that appeal to you.
- Share an idea or ask for help if you are unsure where to start.
About this manual
The Officers' Manual explains how the Typhon works, what crew and leaders can expect of one another, and where to find useful references. Although it is called an officers' manual, it is written for the whole crew, including members who want to understand what goes on behind the scenes or may consider a leadership role in future.
We use the language and setting of Star Trek to give our chapter its identity. Activities such as bridge simulations are ways to enjoy that setting. The guidance in this manual about membership, duties, leadership, points and concerns describes how our real-world chapter operates. You do not have to roleplay to be part of the Typhon.
Where a rule or procedure is still being finalised, the relevant chapter will say so. If you are unsure which guidance applies to your situation, ask your Chief or Command Staff.
Need a hand? Start with your Department Chief for questions about your role or day-to-day chapter activities. If your Chief is unavailable or you need broader help, contact Command Staff. You should feel comfortable asking questions, offering feedback or seeking help with your chapter experience.