A BOOT STAMPING ON A HUMAN FACE, FOREVER: Making the Mirror Universe work
A BOOT STAMPING ON A HUMAN FACE, FOREVER: Making the Mirror Universe work
The Mirror Universe is an intriguing setting for Trek players is it gives a very uncomfortable look at the human condition and shows how things could have gone had evil been allowed to triumph. But when looking at the average operations of a ship’s crew in the Mirror Universe, one is given over to wonder how the Empire, much less the Alliance manages to get anything done with the constant infighting, back-stabbing and other malfeasance the crew is prone too. This will be a collection of thoughts on how to bring forth the ‘banality of evil’ that the Empire/Alliance represents to the fore in more subtle ways. And how to make it far more terrifying for the players. For simplicities sake, I will be focusing on the Empire for examples
1. RUTHLESS COMPTENCE: Let’s be honest here, The Imperial Starfleet is the fastest track to power, wealth and influence in the MU. They have the best technology, the biggest guns, and the mandate to crush the Empires enemies at will. Anyone with half-a-cortex is going to be going for a slot in the IS. This will lead to a log of intrigue, back-stabbing and skull-duggery amongst aspirants. Unfortunately, this gets to be rather expensive in resources for the Empire and there are going to be those officers who, while wanting to keep promising officers on their toes, aren’t going to take to fratricide amongst the ranks with much of anything resembling a sense of humor. Anyone remotely resembling competent may get an occasional warning from those who might find them useful to themselves or the Empire. The practical upshot of this is that the shark-pit that calls itself Starfleet Academy will weed out the weak, while allowing the predators and cold-eyed practicalists to pass out of Academy into the general ranks.
1.5 YOUR PAPERS, PLEASE: The Empire is full of paranoid sorts and technocrati who like nothing better than to spy on you in a way that would put George Orwell’s 1984 to utter shame. Imperial Fleet Officers get some small bennies away from this (if you call being under observation of the ships branch of Imperial Security away), but not much. After Empress’s Sato’s rise to power, The Empire has become exceptionally paranoid about who is going where and speaking to whom. GM’s might want to emphasize this paranoia with the guards the players will be running into, asking for identification at random times.
2. CASUAL GENOCIDE: The Empire is ruthless in the extreme and thinks nothing of wiping out a species to get what it wants. The Halkans in “Mirror, Mirror” were bombarded into oblivion when Mirror Kirk returned. In ‘Dark Mirror’ by Diane Duane, the Ferengi homeworld was reduced to radioactive sludge by the I.S.S. Stargazer under Jean-Luc Picard. If you don’t happen to like a particular species in the Mirror setting, Feel free to wipe them out. The Empire wiped out the Romulans in the Mirror universe, so have at it. To bring this level of cruelty to the fore, make mention of other ships ‘neutralization’ or ‘liquidation’ of other hostile species colonies or worlds.
3. THE GESTAPO WANT A WORD WITH YOU: Aside from preventing the occasional rebellion or undercutting of the occasional influential Senator, Imperial Securities real job resembles that of a Political Officer from Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, or China. Namely, making sure the various officers jockeying for position in Starfleet don’t screw up over all Imperial goals. It isn’t something the players should have to deal with often, as long as they don’t get too out of hand, but they should be concerned when the IS head speaks. Particularly if he’s an NPC. And doesn’t like them.
my particular take on the Empire is somewhere between Nazi Germany and the Roman Empire. Sadistic, Cruel, Efficent, but occasionaly give to bouts of mercy if it amuses those in charge.
