Mission Brief #4 for Star Trek Adventures

MISSION BRIEFS: Search and Rescue

Suggested Era: Star Trek: Nemesis
Spotlight Characters: Security and Science officers

SYNOPSIS

The ship is doing a routine patrol along the Romulan Neutral Zone when they receive a distress signal from Nimbus III.

OPENING LOG ENTRY

Captain’s Log, Stardate 56844.1: We are on a routine patrol along the Romulan Neutral Zone, close to the Nimbus system — the “Planet of Galactic Peace” — whose purpose is to allow the major powers of the Quadrant to meet and hash out their differences peaceably. In reality it is a sort of civilian Starbase 80 — a dumping ground for failed and disgraced diplomats. It is located in the Neutral Zone, and is the only point where Federation, Romulan, and Klingon ships may enter the zone.

MAJOR BEATS

1) Distress Call

The ship will monitor some kind of high energy discharges only a few light hours away in the Romulan Neutral Zone. A successful scan of the area will reveal two Romulan warbirds duking it out. Both are in violation of treaty, but what are they doing fighting each other? As they watch, the Valdore-class warbird is destroyed by the older, larger D’Deridex, which quickly cloaks and disappears. A successful scan, difficulty 4 will reveal that just before the destruction of the warbird, there was a vessel launched and which quickly cloaked (for 2MP, they can determine it was a small scout ship, their equivalent of a runabout.)

They will pick up a faint signal a little while later. It’s the scout vessel, currently in the Nimbus system. “…need assistance… attacked by warbird {static] and ship destroyed… Have to get word to the high command… coup d’etat… Trying to make Nimbus III but losing control…” They will lose the signal, but not before the ship is spotted near Nimbus III, entering the atmosphere much too quickly.

Fortunately, they are authorized to enter the zone in a tight corridor of space to get to Nimbus III. A difficulty 2 navigation test should get them there in an hour or so.

2) Planet of Galactic Peace

A review of their records will show the Romulan ambassador is Shir’el — a diplomat that had worked to bring the Romulans into the Dominion War after the assassination of Senator Vreenak. The UFP Vincent Lorentz — a human from Centauri who had some personal issues that made him unsuitable for higher office. The Klingon ambassador is a former captain, Balek, who lost his attack wing during the war and has been parked on Nimbus III in disgrace. the world itself is mostly desert, although the settlers conned into coming to Nimbus with the promise of opportunity have managed to wrestle portions of it into (barely) arable land. The capital is Paradise City, and they will hear from any officials they contact that the scout ship never made it.

If they contacted the Romulan ambassador, he will relate that the scout ship must have gone down somewhere on the planet and that they will find it. Their assistance is not required. The Federation diplomat, however, will encourage them to find the ship and rescue the crew.

On arrival, they can start scanning for the ship. The helmsman can assist with a successful difficulty 1 test to set up a Polar Orbit scene trait that will aid in a more quick and efficient scan. This can be run as an extended test. Once they have found it, the wreck is near a small town of farms near an outcropping of rocky hills (that are absolutely not the Vasquez Rocks). The wreck is mostly intact, but there’s no life signs.

The mission directives are thus: 1) find and rescue the crew, 2) gather any intelligence regarding their claim of a coup d’etat — a coup against whom?

3) The Wreck

The scout ship is badly damaged — it looks like when their mothership blew up, the scout was hit with debris that eventually caused a lost of power and control systems. The computer core has been destroyed with a disruptor. Why? Before they can ask, a ground vehicle with a team of Romulans will arrive — and they are not friendly disposed. The leader Senek is looking for the crew, as well, and is highly suspicious of their presence.

Searching the area for life signs — there’s some small critters and plant life tenaciously digging into the dead soil of the planet. A difficulty 3 will find the Romulans from the scout ship, two life signs, hiding (of course) in a cave in the rocks. Work together with the Romulans or try to beat them to the crew?

4) Friend or Foe?

The crew are Tal Shi’ar officers who are hiding out from their people. Subcommander Valera and Lieutenant Tala had tried to reach the Federation ambassador, but their ship was barely under their control. Why not go to their ambassador? The reason is simple: they don’t know who to trust; they were attacked by Commander Suran of the warbird Triere. He’s one of the main commanders in the region.

If the characters had worked with the Romulans to find the crew, this is where the double cross happens and the Romulans attack!

They had uncovered one of the Tal Shi’ar’s research centers was experimenting with a danger weapon: a small thalaron radiation projector. Thalaron radiation can disrupt biological functions quickly and disastrously. These projectors had been built for some of their people who were concerned about the thawing relations with the Federation following the Dominion War, and are looking to murder the Praetor Hiren!

If the characters worked alone and beat the Romulans to the cave and the scout ship’s crew, they’ll arrive just in time for a fight.

5) Calling in the Cavalry

Once back on their ship, they can attempt to contact a Romulan commander that Valera trusts: Commander Donatra of the warbird Valdore. They will receive word that she is on her way, but at that moment Commander Suran’s D’Deridexuncloaks! He will demand the return of the scout’s crew or he will destroy their ship.

If a fight ensues, let it run until one side or the other is in real trouble. At that point, Valdore will arrive and Donatra will warn Suran off. She will take the Tal Shi’ar officers into her protection. They’ve done a real service; they made have just stopped a Romulan civil war.

CONCLUSION

The crew, several days later, will receive the news that a coup d’etat has occurred on Romulus and that a new Praetor, Shinzon, has ascended to rule. the rumor is some kind of biogenic weapon was used to kill much of the Romulan Senate! He has already offered to open talks with the Federation, and USS Enterprise under Captain Picard is on route to Romulus.

The Black Campbell