Ideas for Convoy/ Colony support?

[Black Armos]

Hey all, my regular Star Trek Coda game is going on the shelf for a while because a player got an over-the-road trucking job. With his blessing, I will be transferring two of the characters. They will be aboard the USS Armstrong (a Saber-class ship) tasked to protect a convoy of ships (some merchants and some colonists). Does anyone have ideas for adventures with this type of situation? The game is set after the Dominion War and before Nemesis.

Thanks in advance!

[Eric R.]

Will the first thing to pop int my head is that usually after a big war such as with the Dominion war was you usuall have several bands of reengades raiding outlying areas which usually have little protection. of couse this last a very short time till the mail force reposition to deal with here bandits. another would be the lack or shortage of basic needs both aboad colony ships and on colonies themselves. whatch shows like Deadwood for a good feel for this kinda series.

[The Tatterdemalion King]

We talking on-the-road type of game, or a getting-there-then-settling-down type of game?

[JALU3]

Where are they going? Is the ship tasked with protecting the colony, the convoy, or the shipping lane? Will she be alone in the task? These questions and others posted effect what type of episodes you will run for your crew of PCs.

[Black Armos]

Thanks for the responses all. Here is some of what I was thinking for the game to help.

1) I have been running the "Neutral Zone Campaign" (using CODA but it is a LUG product). Because of events in the campaign, Federation convoys must have Starfleet escort close to Romulan territory.

2) The USS Armstrong is tasked with protecting the convoy from start to finish (a on-the-road game like The Tatterdemalion King I think). The convoy will consist of 2 large colony ships for the entire trip and about 3 merchant ships at any one time.

3) I use "Star Trek Star Charts" by Geoffrey Mandel as my map of the galaxy for the game. The trip will start at Starbase 234. Then move through a thin gap between Romulan and Klingon space (at times being in Klingon space) to Starbase 105; then Starbase 152; and lastly Starbase 212. From Starbase 212, the Armstrong will follow the colony ships to their destination and aid startup for an adventure or two. After this, the Armstrong will return to Starbase 234.

4) The trip will take about 7.5 months at warp 6 in game time. The destination for the colony ships is on the edge of Federation space.

5) The characters are a human female security officer, Andorian male science officer and a Klingon male helm officer (part of the officer exchange program).

Ok, that is what I have so far.

Edit: I was thinking the Armstrong would be the only Starfleet vessel because it is a small convoy.

[JALU3]

I haven't played in that campaign world, is it relating to the storyline after the single shot mission in the back of the Players Guidebook? Or is this more related to the Way of Dera?

As for the outer Federation, and RSE space, the reduction in forces due to the losses of the war, you may see an overall increase in piracy. Furthermore, with the events of Nemesis, you may have divisions of the RSE competing for their own interest, and possibly breaking up the empire into smaller, less predictable states. However, I already have issue with your premise, and I will explain, and it could be brought up as an issue in gameplay.
That is, even with the building glut and inexperience bulge which will occur within the months following the end of hostilities, large swaths of inner core, and outer territorial worlds will have been devestated by this conflict. Furthermore, many already established colonies, and possibley even some more effected core systems, may see an increase of in lawlessness. And it's going to be definite that rehabilitiation supplies for terraforming, rebuilding, and what have you will be in short supply. That being said. Why would the Federation send out a convoy which has the intent to colonize a new planet/system, given that the present ones are in such dire need. Of course, they maybe attempting to leave that devastation and start a new, but if it's a Federation Council sponsored colonization, than there must be a VERY good reason at this point to provide it. Maybe there is an underlying mission objective that only the command section is aware of, and maybe some hidden motive by some of the seamingly normal colonist.

As for the size of the convoy, that's a large convoy for a frigate to escort. But given the fact that the Federation is so stretched, it's no wonder they task a smaller ship for such a mission, especially given the expectation that hostilities will be less likely following the end of the DW. Furthermore, depending on the size of the large colony vessels, they could have entire episodes dedicating to exploring the interior. Maybe they have sometype of large biospace inside them to provide them with organic , non replicated, food, and to provide them things to do and a green place to go during this long voyage, rather than staring at some metal bulkhead for 6 months. Also what smaller vessels will they have attached to them, maybe some specifically for terraforming, some for minor planetary or system defense/patrolling. Maybe a detatchment of peregrines to help bolster the defense of the convoy when the need arises. Always good to have "little friends along for the ride" (especially if carried on an Akira Carrier Variant!).

As for the merchants, are they there more for logistical support of this little colonial venture, are they destined to return back to Federation Proper afterwards? Will they need to be escorted back? Are they destined to go elsewhere other than the colonies, before or after the colonist are set up?

[spshu]

May be the this new colony is to replace one destroyed/evacuated in the war, Jalu3, thus a reason to send on a new colony. Perhaps there is some treaty that might force the turn over of the planet if the planet is vacant after a period of time and a hostile party that would like to see that happen.