Spy Campaign

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Since our current campaign is being taken over by another narrator I'll be having much more free time to create a whole new series and I decided that I wanted to make an ala Our Man Bashir/James Bond spy campaign.

I've decided to set in on Rigel VII. My reasoning is that my PC's will be part of the diplomatic corps on the planet. The PC's will be part of the FIS so I can ignore some of the restrictions that Starfleet places upon them.

I've also created some villains I intend to use:

Nel Parim, a Bajoran dissident, he leads a movement called the True Way which is bent on destroying the federation. He also smuggles dangerous weapons, slaves, and drugs using local syndicates.

Scorpio Yarl, an El-aurian mad scientist, works for the movement but secretly wants to take over the galaxy. Your classic mad scientist who reveals his master plan once he captures the good-guys and drops his boss.

Jenny McNabb, daughter of Federation ambassador to Rigel, she is in actuality working for the movements after receiving a brainwash. I'd like to reveal this once the crew is totally sure she is "the sweet little girl". The classic backstab by a close friend of the PC's - one preferably they have been involved with Bond style.

I can't figure out more side-kick villains for the evil guys and some ideas for episodes. I've already created five to start off the series, but I need some "filler" episodes which will lead the crew into dead-ends. I also can't figure out how to involve the syndicate more into the plans.

Thanks ahead of time.

[Silverthorne]

[color=sky blue] Simple make a thug. all he is is a brute. like Oddjob, the big oriental from James bond. Or the ex-spy turned criminal.[/color]

[SIR SIG]

So why'd you pick Rigel VII for this series?

Why does it need a spy campaign? Is it on the borders of the Federation or something else...?

Just the MapMaker chasing some background info

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Actually I was thinking of having an ex-cardassian spy turned smuggler after the Dominion war, though my series is set before it occurs so he will be a later addition. Though I will call him Oddjob.


Posted by Sir SIG:

So why'd you pick Rigel VII for this series?

I wanted a seedy environment in which my players wouldn't be surprised if a street shoot-out broke out. I needed it also to be civilized on the outside with a seedy interior. I'd like to mimic the environment in Eastern Europe, in certain areas.

So if the players are rolling down the streets in a Federation gravtank chasing their arch-enemy Parim or Scorpio, shooting gunmen down from the street-windows; they won't be thinking its impossible! To them it'll just be another normal day on Rigel.

Posted by SIR SIG:

Why does it need a spy campaign? Is it on the borders of the Federation or something else...?

I decided to make a spy campaign, mostly because I've been watching too many Bond movies.

The Orion syndicate is rumoured to engage in activities on Rigel and the TNG corebook from LUG mentioned that it was the homeworld of the Syndicate. I want to have the players later on infiltrate the Syndicate to discover the way it works.
The Corebook also said that it was in the Beta quadrants 900lt-yrs away from Earth so no contacting HQ for orders, all in the field on the spot. The planets is also site to ancient Debrune sites, which will hold ancient galaxy destroying tech. for Scorpio to discover and attempt to use.


I want to use the syndicate further down the road, I just can't figure out a way to involve them without it looking as if they work for Parim. I also don't want to reveal any details about the syndicate for now.

[Imagus]

Originally posted by SIR SIG
So why'd you pick Rigel VII for this series?

Why does it need a spy campaign? Is it on the borders of the Federation or something else...?

Just the MapMaker chasing some background info

A good reason from my pov (I'm working on a similar campaign concept) is that in FASA trek, Rigel is the home of the Orions, and lies on the Klingon/Federation border, close to the Triangle. It is actually the ideal location for an espionage-related campaign.

Of course, I'm using a lot of the FASA stuff (with some modifications), and setting the game in the 2280's as well, so I have the Orion Sphere and Colonies, the Triangle nations and so on. I'm of the opinion that most of it doesn't violate the main Trek continuity too badly - especially since the Rigel of the old Orions sourcebook sounds an awful lot like the one in "Broken Bow."

Khrys? It sounds like we're working along similar lines - I'll be interested in exchanging plot ideas and discussing intelligence activities in the near future. I've just got to make sure my players stay out of the ready room

[LizardQueen]

Originally posted by Imagus
...I've just got to make sure my players stay out of the ready room

Try adding warnings to your players in the threads where you're posting things you don't want them to see. (Unless of course they're the type to peek! ) That's what my gamemaster does.

[Phantom]

Do you have access to the Starfleet Intelligence Handbook by LUG? A good place to start for an Intel game. Also, you may want to consider Dessica II as a setting for the game, its sort of like Budpest from the cold war, all spies, info peddlers and malcontents congregate there sooner or later.

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Posted by Phantom:

Do you have access to the Starfleet Intelligence Handbook by LUG? A good place to start for an Intel game. Also, you may want to consider Dessica II as a setting for the game, its sort of like Budpest from the cold war, all spies, info peddlers and malcontents congregate there sooner or later.

Unfortunately I do not. Though I intend to at least get a read through one at a local store I frequently visit. I figure that Rigel systems would be like India during the cold war (alot like Budapest), a training ground for agents and recruits.

Posted by Imagus:

Khrys? It sounds like we're working along similar lines - I'll be interested in exchanging plot ideas and discussing intelligence activities in the near future. I've just got to make sure my players stay out of the ready room

Sure!
I'm finishing up a write-up of my first episode and I may post it here for some feedback. I intend to rely less on intensive intelligence gathering and more on fast action, fast ideas and fast women
I'd like to mimic the Bond movies with its one liners and impossible actions.

So as soon as I finish I'll post it here.

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Alright as I said, here's my intended first episode for my spy series:

Named: M.A.D.

The PC's will be assigned to the embassy on Rigel VII as part of the diplomatic corps. Their commanding officer will contact them through a viewscreen on their wall and inform them of local syndicate activity and the usual activities. He'll also inform of their first assignement; stopping a shipment of subspace weapons bound for the local pirate trade. The crew will also learn that Nel Parim is the man who is conducting this elicit trade (they have no clue, yet that he will be the main enemy).

I plan to introduce some of the main NPC's part of the crews entourage such as their CO, the main ambassador, his daughter and wife. I'll also include some classic James Bond people like Q and the secretary in the front office.


Act 1: PC's locate cargo ships and stow away on-board to be transported to the Rigel moon.
-I picture the scene with alot of sneaking around, masking their signatures and maybe knocking out some guards to take their uniforms.

Act 2: Once on the moon, they will be able to go around and sabotage the shipment. Either by using explosives or by stealing the focusing crystals of the weapons (the most valuable part).
-More skulking about, setting explosives or taking out the crystals which would involve carefull actions.
-If some PC's venture further into the hideout, they'll find Parim in an office. He'll spin around in his chair and say something like; "I've been expecting you, while petting a cat.". They'll be taken captive by his thugs and tied up together over a cauldron with plasma or whatever.(The PC's which stayed behind will also be brought here.) He'll reveal his masterplan and the leave them to die.
-The PC's will then use some of their gadgets as given by the "Q" NPC. I'm thinking of a coin charged with some technobabble particle which will short circuit the controls and make the cauldron tip over. They'll get out of their bonds afterwards.
-Thugs will then appear to deal with them. Fights reminiscent of the TOS Kirk brawls.

Act 3: After dealing with the thugs, they'll see Parim escape in an atmospheric hovercopter. Damning them for foiling his plans.
-They'll be contacted by their CO just as the cargo ships explode (either they planted the explosives or the thugs shot poorly and caused a leak which ignited.).
-I'm betting at least on of my players will say something along the lines of "What an explosive finish.".


That will be my first part.

[Imagus]

Originally posted by Lt.Khrys Antos
-They'll be contacted by their CO just as the cargo ships explode (either they planted the explosives or the thugs shot poorly and caused a leak which ignited.).

Surely that should be while at least one of them is pursuing the obvious charms of a green "slave"?

All sounds very Bond...

I'm partially persuaded to go for a more toned-down version myself. Operating in what is basically StarFleet's answer to Customs and Excise (an armed customs service with its own armed ships (escorts and corvettes) and intelligence and legal branches), the PCs will be mobile special agents along the Klingon Neutral Zone in the movie era.

I really must write it up for my players

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Of course, the Orion slave part! I'll include in the second episode.
I'm working on number two which should be done very soon, it isn't as explosively charged as this one though I hope it will require more thinking then the first.

An armed custom service sounds interesting. I've never thought of running one based along those lines. Just out of curiosity do you plan to include a classic agency screws/drops/forgets about an agent because it is convenient/only choice/politically risky? I'd like to have one styled in the Redford movie Spy Game.

[Imagus]

Oh, I'm sure I can work in something along those lines

I've run the basic idea past three of the players and they're happy, so I guess this is the plan!

Really must start working on some episode seeds

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Alright here is number two.

Mission: Enter Scorpion

The crew is invited along with the Diplomatic Corps by a local Orion leader to a gala held on his grand estate. The agency believes that he is closely working with Parim. The PC's must hack into his estates database and figure it the truth.

Scene 1: The gala is held in an enormous concert room with hundreds of guests attending. All the major governments have diplomats attending. The PC's can use this time to strike up conversations with others and to mingle with the crowd.
-I'll introduce them Mr.Yarl at this moment, he is working with the Orion and comes of as rather friendly if a bit eccentric.

Scene 2: The Pc's infiltrate. Searching the building they quickly discover a secret laboratory where they can hack the computer for info.
-The only way not to get caught is to KO other servants to take their uniforms.
-The secret lab is Scorpio's lab where he has devised a potent elixir which affects the mind making people highly susceptible to suggestions.
-Once they hack the computer, they'll realize that the Orion holding the gala has had the elixir used on him and that Scorpio plans to administer it to the guests through the use of a cake. Therefore, subverting the whole diplomatic staff of every major government in the Rigel system!

Scene 3: The PC's rush to the cake and quickly infuse it with an antidote. The guests will eat it and suffer no ill affects. Scorpio will yell out in triumph and realize too late that his plot has been foiled. His escape...
-He will run into the vineyard and the PC's on hot pursuit.
-A little bit of a chase scene begins, PC's shooting thugs and them shooting back.
-Scorpio quickly grabs unto a ladder and escapes on an atmospheric gravcopter. Shouting something like: "I'll be back! You haven't heard the last of Scorpio! Mouahahahahaha!"

Numero Dos is complete.

[CmdrBluejeans]

A few years ago, I ran a Bondian-themed Amber DRPG game, and one of my players created a 'list of rules' for such a game. I'll have to see if I can get a fresh copy from him since I've lost mine, but remember the following:

There needs to be two women. One who is eeevil, and one who is not. In this case, since you're reversing the idea and having one brainwashed 'good girl', you need one sinister chick who turns out to be on the side of the angels. But remember the usual rule -- the good guy cannot have sex with the bad girl until after his first face-to-face confrontation with the archvillain. Since you're flipping the good and bad girls by this tactic, you have to set it up so that this Jenny chick will be such a 'good girl' that if she falls for a PC, she'll find every excuse NOT to get romantic untl after the PCs have encountered Scorpio.



BJ

[Lt.Khrys Antos]

Posted by CmdrBluejeans:

There needs to be two women. One who is eeevil, and one who is not. In this case, since you're reversing the idea and having one brainwashed 'good girl', you need one sinister chick who turns out to be on the side of the angels. But remember the usual rule -- the good guy cannot have sex with the bad girl until after his first face-to-face confrontation with the archvillain. Since you're flipping the good and bad girls by this tactic, you have to set it up so that this Jenny chick will be such a 'good girl' that if she falls for a PC, she'll find every excuse NOT to get romantic untl after the PCs have encountered Scorpio.

An interesting notion. I figured that the reason for her mind-control was Scorpio's elixir which made her highly prone to suggestions, Parim then used it to turn her against the PC's. I'd have to create an evil women which the PC's will grasp unto, maybe an Orion or an ex-Romulan spy.
I could use such a woman to at least once free the PC's if they get captured, obviously not intentionally, she'd pay less attention to the "restraints".
Alright then I'll add such a character. Now I need to think up of a character to fit the role.