Neutral Zone
ERA: Dominion War
TYPE: Diplomatic/Intrigue/Military
LOCATION: UFP/Romulan Border
The PCs are the crew of a cruiser (Nebula or Akira type) patrolling a sector on the neutral zone, disputed by the Romulans. They deal with smugglers, local criminals, science missions and diplomatic missions, while combatting Tal Shiar plots. They are not involved in the ongoing War.
They become aware that Starfleet Intelligence (or Section 31 if that fits your version) is also operating in the area, with a decidedly illegal research base near the border.
After a few episodes the Romulans join the Dominion War, and the sector is handed over to the Empire as compensation. The ship is moved to the new border sector. The crew have to deal with indigenous and colonial populations upset by the move, and with SI/S31 who (taken by surprise by the handover) are trying to avoid their plots being uncovered by the Tal Shiar, and are not above blackmailing the crew into helping. Of course, some crew members may not be happy with the handover anyway.
As added spice, the Enterprise E is patrolling a couple of sectors up the border, and the local admiral does not like Picard. The crew will regularly find themselves pressed for time to prevent the Enterprise arriving and getting all the glory...
In my version, I also had the ship caught up in the First Contact battle against the Borg, and made use of the Neutral Zone ongoing plots.
Jon
"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea is asleep and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song.
Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea is getting cold. Come on, Ace, we've got work to do."
THE DOCTOR, "Survival" (Doctor Who)