It's been a LONG time since our group played, as we all just got busy and found it tough to meet. But tonight we're continuing our second mission - the Doug Burke and Don Mappin penned adventure, Perdition's Flames. I figured that maybe some of you have read through it, or even played it, so it might be fun to let you know how it's going with our group.
• The Nez Perce entered the Styx Rift, a 20 light-year x 12 light-year area of space noted for a “Lazarus Star” – a recurring nova – along with high concentrations of nebulae, ion storms, and subspace and gravimetric distortion. The crew recalibrated the sensors, modulated the subspace relays, and determined an effective path through the dangerous region.
• Several days after entering the Rift, the ship emerged from a nebula and picked up a faint distress call. Veroz boosted the gain enough to make the message intelligible, and he determined that it was a Starfleet encryption about 60 years out of date. The message, which repeated continuously, stated:
“Mayday! Mayday! This is the Federation Starship U.S.S. Potemkin calling any Starfleet vessel in range. Immediate assistance is required. Our dilithium supply has been destroyed and we are stranded within the Rift. Any Federation starship in range, please respond!”
• Following the signal led the crew to the second moon of Rogue Zeta 2, which is otherwise known as Perdition. The Class M moon was orbited by two vessels, the Federation Constitution-class Potemkin and the Klingon K’t’inga-class Krotahl. Scans showed the ships to be lifeless and on reserve power, but two large encampments were discovered on the moon itself. One camp was made up mostly of Humans and Vulcans, and the other entirely of Klingons.
• Captain Eagleheart beamed down to the surface, along with Khoal, Veroz, Levok, and two Security personnel. They found themselves in a hot and barren wasteland, marked with crumbling structures and high velocity winds. As they headed for the Federation settlement, they were met by a pair of sentries wearing the tattered remains of old Starfleet uniforms.
• The sentries escorted them into the settlement, a collection of ramshackle huts and bombed out buildings with a network of dusty trails connecting each of the individual encampments. The rag-tag citizens inside seemed to be organized as an army, and the Humans and Vulcans all wielded pristine medieval weaponry rather than Starfleet-issued gear. The landing party was taken into Fort Hope, a well-guarded, walled structure comprised of scavenged pieces of metal, technology, and natural objects.
• Inside Fort Hope the group was introduced to Captain Heather Davis, an intense, middle-aged woman who seemed a bit suspicious. She brusquely demanded help finishing the Klingons off “once and for all”, but Eagleheart politely refused. She seemed to expect this, but explained that the away team had not experienced what they had.
• Meanwhile, Commander Da’Rell headed for the Klingon settlement…