Star Trek: Genesis

[AslanC]

Okay so this is the official title of my new game

Let em lay out the premise for you

Millenia ago the planet now known as LV-9518 promoted a very strong and vibrant ecosystem. Then the sun went Nova, stripping away the planet's atmosphere and also smashing one of its' moons into the other, leaving a broken husk in orbit.

As the years went by the Nova cooled and a nebula was formed. A bright purple, pink and blue cloud, it enshourds the systems sun and even at night, fills the planet's sky with an everpresent glow.

About 200 years ago someone dsicovered that the broken moon had an abundance of basic, yet valuable minerals. A mining operation was set up and durned a regular profit.

About 120 years ago the Federation decided to make a presence in the area (as it is right on the edge of disputed space between the Tzenkethi and the Talarians.) Putting Deep Space Station 27 in place (a Kepler station) Starfleet paid a visit once in a while to the station, but for the most part it was so out of the way no one cared.

During the Cardassian/UFP war the station became somewhat more important, but eventually the focus of the war shifted up to the DMZ/Bajoran Sector and the little outpost was forgotten again.

50 years ago the mine in the husk played itself out and the station became a bit of a liability for the new "more exploratory" UFP. Selling it off to a private interest, it quickly found a market for itself as a frontier station. Over the next 50 years it changed hands on a regular basis.

Renamed "Paradise Station" by one of the many owners, it became a favorite stop over for Talarian or Cardassian sailors in the area. The luxurious bordello on station, as well as the rough and tumble attitude provided a breeding ground for criminal activity as well. The Orion Syndicates were in full control, despite who was the "official" owner.

With the recent hostilties flare-up between the Talarians and the Tzenkethi (in no small part feuled by both sides having acquired Dominion War salvage and advanced weaponry from various illicit sources) the UFP has decided to create and patrol a DMZ/Neutral Zone between the two powers.

Called "the Cooridor", it is on the UFP side marked by Starbase 385 at the edge of Federations pace and then Sentac Nor, at the edge of Cardassian Space. Realizing the need for a midway point, the UFP decided to build a new Starbase naer the far end of the Cooridor.

Learning of their desire, the latest owner of Paradise Station, a Ferengi named Arvek, contacted Strafleet and offered to seel them back the station... For a tiddy profit of course.

Mindful of the need to rebuild the fleet, Starfleet Command decided to purchase the station and use it as an interim solution and then later build a new starbase in the system.

The Orion Syndicate was not thrilled to hear of it, and secretly promised to make Starfleet and the UFP regret the action. For his own part, Arvek never got the chance to enjoy his wealth as he was found stuffed into an ODN service area on the station.

Continued...

[AslanC]

Based out of the station will be two ships, whose only job is to patrol the cooridor and protect the station.

The first is the Starfleet vessel USS Iguazu - NCC 54927. A Niagara class vessel under the command of Captain Percy Elias Collas, the Iguazu has had a long and historic career. First comissioned in 2352, the Iguazu was the first command of Captain Collas and performed border cuty along the Cardassian front during the war. During the Dominion War she once again found herself on the front lines, even losing one of her three nacelles (the lower) in a fight with Cardassians.

Repaired and saved from the decomissioning slate by the need for functional patrol ships, Captain Collas has agreed to be the "big" ship in the area, despite being plagued by technical problems.

The second ship will be an yet unnamed Klingon Br'el BOP. She will be commanded by a PC and should be great fun. More details once I have them.

The station itself will see more than that in the form of Starfleet vessels, but they will be coming through on their way to Sentac Nor, or to explore the mass of this fromtier below Cardassian space.

If my players are to be believed these will be their PC choices...

The station Commander will be a joined Trill, male. He will be a bit of a legend in Starfleet as he was one of those guys who was always there (or at least the symbiont was). Wether the new host is up to the task remains to be seen.

He will be aided by an Andorian (male) chief of Security who is not opposed to getting his hands bloodied and likes to refer to useless people as "Meat Shields". Should be fun watching him get broken a bit

The Klingon commander will be one of those men cut from the Martok cloth. Meaning he is less uptight about his honor and advancement, but instead revels in being a warrior and living life to the fullest. Also a Dominion War hero, certain members of the High Council are happier with him far away from the Empire.

One of the players wishes to play a Doctor. She hasn't decided yet wether to be a Starfleet Medical Officer, or a private doctor who is on the station performing "humanitarian" services... maybe with a dark past? I'll talk to her about it and see

Another one of the players has been sniffing around a Vulcan Mystic, but she isn't sure. She is one of those players who can play anything, she just has to make a choice

The last lady of my 6 players is being tempted right now into playing a female Ferengi who has come to the station seeking Profit under Grand Nagus Rom's reforms. Of course I will have her pretend to be Arvek's daughter, who has come to claim her deceased father's property. Of course she won't get it, but will be given the license to his bar in the main part of the station.

I am now thinking about NPCs... suggestions are welcome

[Sho-sa Kurita]

Like how it all came together Aslan. Something I feel I should point out -- it's corridor , not "cooridor."

-- Daniel

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Sho-sa Kurita
Like how it all came together Aslan. Something I feel I should point out -- it's corridor , not "cooridor."

eep... you are correct sir... my bad

Okay so the idea is coming together, any ideas for colourful NPCs to populate the station with?

[AslanC]

Oh and I am now tempted to call it Star Trek: Paradise... after the station.

What do you guys and dolls think?

[Erik Filean]

Well, you have a security officer, but in case you have another use for the idea...

For a DS9-like series, I've had an idea for a while now for an Angosian super-soldier law enforcement officer. A little like Clint Eastwood's character in "Unforgiven," if you've seen that...a character trying very hard to believe he's changed and can manage his violent impulses. It being Star Trek, perhaps he should in the long run; but that doesn't make it easier in the process.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Erik Filean
Well, you have a security officer, but in case you have another use for the idea...

For a DS9-like series, I've had an idea for a while now for an Angosian super-soldier law enforcement officer. A little like Clint Eastwood's character in "Unforgiven," if you've seen that...a character trying very hard to believe he's changed and can manage his violent impulses. It being Star Trek, perhaps he should in the long run; but that doesn't make it easier in the process.

Interesting idea, I had thought about them recently as well. But I think that the character would work better as a PC, not an NPC. At least then the journey would mean more. As an NPC, it might over shadow the PCs discovery.

I wasn't think of Starfleet characters so much as the denizens of Paradise Station BUt good diea, I may steal it for a PC the next Trek game I play in

[Erik Filean]

Originally posted by AslanC
Interesting idea, I had thought about them recently as well. But I think that the character would work better as a PC, not an NPC. At least then the journey would mean more. As an NPC, it might over shadow the PCs discovery.

I wasn't think of Starfleet characters so much as the denizens of Paradise Station BUt good diea, I may steal it for a PC the next Trek game I play in

Feel free. I don't have any expectation of using the character in the near future. And you're right, it is probably better as a PC than an NPC concept. (I didn't envision the character as Starfleet though; impulse control problems aren't exactly the kind of issues Starfleet can deal with in its officers.)

[LizardQueen]

I prefer Star Trek: Paradise to Star Trek: Genesis myself - Genesis sounds too much like the Genesis Device to me.

For an NPC, how about a bodyguard for some criminal type. The bodyguard appears to be a typical Klingon - huge, hulking, armed with a Bat'leth. The kicker is that this guy isn't REALLY a bodyguard (or not JUST a bodyguard). Unknown to anyone but his boss, he is actually half-Betazoid, and uses his empathy to read his boss's opponents' emotional states during sensitive negotiations.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by LizardQueen
I prefer Star Trek: Paradise to Star Trek: Genesis myself - Genesis sounds too much like the Genesis Device to me.

Funny you should say that. I choose the name because in the first episode a Genesis device will be accidentally detonated on the planet (well a ship crashing into it actually) and will create a new world that is somehow stable. Resulting in everyone wanting to learn the secret of why so they can make their own planets, etc...

Originally posted by LizardQueen
For an NPC, how about a bodyguard for some criminal type. The bodyguard appears to be a typical Klingon - huge, hulking, armed with a Bat'leth. The kicker is that this guy isn't REALLY a bodyguard (or not JUST a bodyguard). Unknown to anyone but his boss, he is actually half-Betazoid, and uses his empathy to read his boss's opponents' emotional states during sensitive negotiations.

Hmmm...neat idea, though I think I would make him (or her) something other than Klingon... or maybe not. That got my wheels turning Thanks.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Erik Filean
Feel free. I don't have any expectation of using the character in the near future. And you're right, it is probably better as a PC than an NPC concept. (I didn't envision the character as Starfleet though; impulse control problems aren't exactly the kind of issues Starfleet can deal with in its officers.)

True enough, though since Station security will be Starfleet, I would have to make him and officer or enlisted of somekind. Also given the recent DW, I am willing to bet that Starfleet laxed its' enrollement policy by the middle of the war

[Phantom]

Have you come up with an idea on how it is stable? My theory is that since the Genesis Planet in STII was created from "dead space" instead of a "living" planet is the reason why it was so unstable.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Also, I've never really been one for numerical names for systems and planets, I know that is how things are done now, but it lacks...Poetry. Since you are calling it ST:Paradise why not call the planet Dante, Hades, Lankmar (to reflect the lawlessness), Tannith, or TANSTAAFL ?

The first type of character that actually came to mind was a security officer in same line as Sean Connery in "Outland." But since the Andorians are my favourite Trek race I can live with the above idea.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Well I personally think you need to keep the reason for the new planet's stability a mystery, otherwise you risk losing much of the 'specialness' of the setting. As soon as you solve the mystery, you lost a large chunk of the draw of the planet. Once the different parties know the secret, they can go off and do their own thing.

However, I would suggest that the stability should be down to some unusual feature of the planet, something that with many years of research might be identifiable in other potential Genesis worlds, or perhaps even replicable. Of course, the PCs (or the Federation Council, Starfleet, whatever) may want to keep it secret to avoid letting the genie out of the bottle.

Just another 2 pence from yours truly

[AslanC]

I haven't decided as to why it was stable, but I think it will have something to do with the Nova/Nebula and a very specific radiation that is present that Alpha Quad tech can't even scan right now, but the Iconians were more than knowledgable about

Also, remember that there is an ancient Iconian complex underground

Very Forbidden Planet

[Anarchy Bob]

The station could be home to a 'stay at home' bounty hunter. The guy (or girl) uses hacking techniques and intelligence gathering to locate information about wanted criminals, selling it to the concerned authorities.

The main problem about him is that he illegally taps into the station's computers and comm array to power his searches.

Works best if he's found out at the exact moment a sideplot requires his special talents.