Star Trek: Unity

[Chris Blanchard]

Okay, change of plans. I've diceded that the Virginia needs to be an Intrepid-class. It's still an explorer-class and capable of handling itself, but has a much smaller crew than the Nebula. I like the idea of a smaller ship there.

Now I have a question for you all.... one of my players has mentioned interest in playing the captain of the USS Virginia. While I have nothing with the concept in general, I'm not sure I want to have a PC that high a rank just yet. What do you all think is a good starting max-rank? Maybe I should ask this in different topic...

[Kronok]

There should be a few threads in this section pertaining to this topic...

[Chris Blanchard]

Okay, with the Narrator's Guide in hand (well, on the table next to me... its hard to type with it in my hand...), I've decided to write out the series using the templates in the book. So, here's what I got so far:

Star Trek: Unity

Era: 24th Century (2373 - ?)
Region: The Triangle (area of space where the Klingon, Federation and Romulan Borders meet)
Traveling: Starships, Shuttles & Transporters
Organization: Starfleet and IKDF
Mission Focus: Diplomatic, Defense & Intelegance
Composition: Multi-Species (Human & Klingon predominant) and Multi-Proffession
Base Type: Starbase (Starbase Unity)
Era Technology: 24th
Available Technology: Standard Starfleet and IKDF
Threat and Opposition: Romulans, Dominion, The Eshin Purity Movement and various by episode.
Feel: Who can we trust/who's the enemy?

That's the basics so far... I'm working on what I want the Crew to be, I'm thinking no higher than Lt. in rank. I'm also working on the first episode. Here's what I got so far for that.

The new Eshin ambassador is ready to come to the station, and the Crew are assigned to a runabout and told to go get him. The ambissador is actually a member of the Purity Movement, but no one knows this yet. On the way home, someone attacks the runabout, obviously attempting to kill the ambassador.

That's as far as I've got. I'm trying to figure out who's attacking the ambassador. I was at first thinking that it would be the purity movement, in a fake attack designed to make the ambassador more sympathitic and get him "in" with the crew. Another idea along this lines is that the Movement made it look like the Romulans did it, bringing them into the story.

Now, if I do this, my thought was to have a Romulan ambassador on the station who is the one that is actually framed. When the PC's move to arrest the Ambassador, a warbird decloaks and threatens the station.

But that leads to the question would there even be a Romulan ambassador onboard Unity? Or would they consider it a threat, or simply ignore it?

What do you all think? Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks.

[Sho-sa Kurita]

I don't think it should be the Purity Movement. I'd think they'd want to avert attention. Even if the fake-out works on Starfleet personnel, the general populace of Eshin would also think they were responsible (since they can't say otherwise), and I'd think that would be publicity they don't need.

A possibility -- the runabout sets off a cloaked Romulan mine. This mine[field] is actually from a previous Romulan/Klingon conflict, but no-one will know that at first. Before they can figure that out, it will be really ambiguous who the 'attack' is targeting. Even when it is resolved do you really trust the Romulans?

And then who should arrive on-scene first to help? Why it's the Romulan representative on his way to Unity.

-- Daniel

[Chris Blanchard]

I kinda like that idea. It adds to the tension if the area was the site of a battle between the Romulans and the Klingons. Especially if the Eshin never knew the battle ever happened. Gives the Purity Movement something to gripe about.

Another interesting twist on that would be to have it look like Romulan mines, but have it turn out to be Klingon mines. Hmmm.... I'll have to think about this. Also, how come no one else would have noticed/run into these mines before now?

The thing about this, though, is I kinda wanted the Purity Movement to have something to do with the first episode. They have to be involved in the main conflict of the episode some how... hmmm... much thinking to be done. Thanks for the idea.

[Sho-sa Kurita]

how come no one else would have noticed/run into these mines before now?

Well, space is big, and maybe they clear the field only to miss a couple. Of course that never happens in real life.

I kinda wanted the Purity Movement to have something to do with the first episode. They have to be involved in the main conflict of the episode some how.

OK, then have the "panic-stricken" Eshin ambassador blurt out that's who it must be, which introduces the idea of the movement, and provides a red herring at the same time.

-- Daniel

[Chris Blanchard]

Yeah, I like that idea... I'll have to actually go and work on this episode now. Thanks!