Series idea

[marty4286]

Well, after 1 month of watching China Beach, I have an idea for a story line to use on my players.

It is the aftermath of the Dominion war, approximately 5 years. The Major Alpha and Beta Quadrant Nations are trying to exert their powers by spreading their philosophies to lesser nations and fighting a cold war, to make sure that the next war will be won by that nation. At the Planet Mantei V, in the Aisa-Tsae-Htuos System, near Narenda III and Kithomer, 1 lightyear from the Federation, the Romulans, and the Klingons. In Mantei V, the Romulans and the Federation were fighting a war with surrogates from factions of the people living there. Mantei V was a former Klingon colony, but broke away, when the Klingons participated in the Dominion war. The Klingons pulled out, after the embarrasment in Peid, one of the moons in Mantei V. 2 years later, after mounting losses by the Western Hemisphere Mantei against the Eastern Hemisphere Koogs, the Federation brought up its support, from a single Excelsior class ship of advisors, the the 3rd fleet. As the Romulans continue training and supplyng the Koogs, and a few months after the 3rd fleet arrived, the Federation started landing troops in Mantei V...

Well, you know how this story goes through...

I'm still thinking about what I should have my players do, either as ground troops, a support ship of the 3rd fleet, please add to my idea.

[SIR SIG]

Umm, just from a mapmakers point of view. I dont't think there is anywhere where a planet could be around 1ly from the feds, klings and rommies.

Your closest mark would be the fialed peace colony Nimbus III. Which is equidistant (at least tos-movies time) from all 3 powers.

In modern times (unless your powers wrap up and over each other) the closest planet to all 3 would be around 50-100 ly.

But it is a minor quibble and is indeed your game, so....

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SIRSIG
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
AKA: The Trek Cartographer
AKA:...Well I could keep going forever

[marty4286]

I don't think you get it :/. Mantei V, aisa-tsae-htuos system... the Koogs... Peid... look at it again, then tell me if you know what I am going for :-)

[Robert Lai]

You mean, Southeast Asia?

You'll have to keep the situation fresh to sustain a Vietnam-era style storyline, especially after the Dominion War. Even with surrogates, the appeal of a smaller conflict would be a drain on resources and difficult to justify.

Initially, on the Federation/Starfleet side of things, it is also a Prime Directive issue. Though, once 'the other side' has intervened, the question becomes less defined. The Federation would still face the issue of disclosure, particularly if the operation is on the QT.

Imagine your character returning to Starbase 215 for some much-needed R&R ... you step into the bar, and a Ferengi collars you and asks, "So, is it true the Federation is funding a war on Aisa?"

Bob

[marty4286]

Like vietnam, I'm having the civillians be TOTALLY against this. The Federation Council, and Starfleet, under command of war mongers and political idealist think that it is wrong that the romulans want control of the planet to spread their ideals. The idealists think this is the right thing to do, and believe it is stopping the interference of a culture. The citizens oppose the "intervention", because they believe they have no right to police the galaxy. A nearby starbase that you mentioned might not only contain scheming ferengi, but also Klingon mercenaries who want a piece of the action [maybe to restore the empire's honor from the siege at Peid (mirroring Diep with the French)], and even hundreds of protesting citizens who oppose the war in Mantei V.

[Robert Lai]

The characters could be placed in the role of 'advisors,' much as the initial U.S. presence in Vietnam was justified. Potential conflict comes from a 'conscientious objector' who doesn't want to take lives, even at the expense of losing things that are important to him. (Yes, I know this mirrors TOS 'A Private Little War' to some extent - it's not the concept, but how you tell the story.) Or, the characters must send people they have worked with, trained with, and care about ... on a mission that may result in a near-total casualty rate. To provide a key resource would be against orders - so to do what conscience dictates gets the characters in trouble with the chain of command.

There is also the typical take-this-hill dilemma. You're in a starship, with advanced weapons - the capability and the will to take an objective is yours. You do so, as ordered. And then ... you're ordered to withdraw from that objective, no explanations. Do you follow 'orders' or play to win?

An even stickier question is the Tet Offensive parallel - there are stories that the CIA was conveniently absent from bases at the time of the Tet Offensive. Did they know about it? Why did they not warn our forces? Is this a Churchill-knew-about-Coventry problem, or something more sinister?

Bob

[calguard66]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by marty4286:
I don't think you get it :/. Mantei V, aisa-tsae-htuos system... the Koogs... Peid... look at it again, then tell me if you know what I am going for :-)</font>

First, let me state that I'm an active duty US soldier... (who still won't watch anything with Jane Fonda in it).

However, I still find your use of "Gooks" offensive, and very incompatable with the spirit of Trek.

Your plot has potential, but I hope that you'll use it to show the moral ambiguity of such a conflict (and the heroism and villany present on BOTH sides)... rather than making it a black-and-white stereotype campaign.

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"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

[marty4286]

I'm not trying to sound racist or anything, but I don't think its offensive at all, but thats because I know a vietnamese who has an online alias "gookmasta". Knowing him probably made me a little less offended to that term. Since I have not told my players about this, I might be able to change it from Koogs to something less offensive.