Star Trek: Avalon
Shameless Plug Warning: Turn back while you still can!!!!
Partly for my own amusement, partly because I want to rough-draft write out some of the info I plan to put on my campaign website, I present the info to date on my CODA series Star Trek campaign. Read, be amused, or just plain laugh.Compliments preferred, Constructive Criticism welcome, and Flames are ignored. Quick Note: My players insist on casting an actor to give their characters an instantly recognizable image when describing a scene. I've found this works greatly for establishing character rapport, so I encourage it.
Star Trek: Avalon
The Premise
Star Trek: Avalon is the story of the crew of the newly christened USS Avalon, a modified Sovereign-class starship, and a testbed for two technologies which may revolutionize the galaxy: the first sentient AI, which is devoted to ships maintenance and control of the new Quantum Slipstream drive.
Originally intended as a long-range exploratory vessel, its shakedown mission has been interrupted by events of historical significance. With the aftermath of the Dominion War, all the major powers of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants were ready for a change. The Federation and the Klingons have formalized their alliance to even deeper levels. After Shinzon's coup d'etat, the Romulans have seen the value of cooperation, thanks to Captain Picard and the Enterprise. The Cardassians and the Ferengi have both been rebuilt thanks to massive reformationist movements in the aftermath of the Dominion War. Even the Dominion itself has re-evaluated its purpose, thanks to Constable Odo.
The USS Avalon is launched on the eve of one of the single greatest events in galactic history, and her crew finds itself taking center stage in an era where everyone's beliefs are about to be overturned, and the line between enemy and ally is about to disappear entirely.
The Cast
Captain Jason Osbourne Jason Osbourne is a 30yo human male, recently promoted to Captain of the USS Avalon. He served with distincition during the Dominion War, and served as Commanding Officer of the USS Resolute, a Defiant-class scout, during the Battle of Cardassia Prime. He's cocky and cunning, but a charismatic leader, and an innovative tactician, much in the style of James T. Kirk, a fact which unnerves Starfleet Command endlessly. However, he shows control and rational judgment, that offsets his seemingly impulsive nature. (Actor: Michael Shanks; Dr. Daniel Jackson from Stargate SG-1)
Commander Vanessa London Vanessa London is a 32yo human female. She was a child prodigy who studied at the Daystrom Institute since the age of 10, shortly after her parents died. She transferred to Starfleet Academy at age 18, and graduated from the Engineering program and went to work in the computer R&D division. There she worked on the Artificial Intelligence program for several years, working her way up through the ranks. Eventually seeing that the AI program wasn't progressing due to Starfleet's reluctance to give a computer such power, she grew bored and requested admission to Command School. She graduated with High Honors and spent some time serving as an administrator during the Dominion War.
Finally, with the advent of the quantum slipstream program, the AI division was reactivated, and Cmdr London was immediately put in charge of designing an AI system capable of handling the nanosecond fast and complicated navigational requirements of the new quantum slipstreamdrive. She and her team succeeded in converting an auxilliary computer core to handle a self-replicating neural gel-pack network and personality subroutines (not to mention safeguards) to allow the AI to interface with the main computer. She based the initial prototype off herself, and nicknamed the AI "Val", short for Avalon. She was then assigned as Executive Officer, to keep an eye on the early development of the first production model.
Cmdr London has a vivacious and playful nature, that belies her reserved exterior. She is famous for his razor sharp tongue, and underhanded comments she directs at anyone who raises her ire. She has the charisma of a great leader, and does know how to inspire loyalty, but is far from a diplomat, and tends to exacerbate personal conflicts, rather than try and settle them. (Actress: Kate Beckinsale; Underworld, Pearl Harbor, Cold Comfort Farm)
Commander Jeffrey Taylor Cmdr Taylor is a 28yo Human Male, and a genius in theoretical design. Assigned to Utopia Planitia during the Dominion War to help find ways to accelerate starship production, he displays a remarkable ability to find new ways to do things wil old equipment. Assigned by Admiral Kathryn Janeway to head the Quantum Slipstream development project, he successfully managed to install permanent modifications to the main deflector array, allowin it to establish a more stable long-term subspace corridor, overcoming one of the two major hurdles to making the new drive practical. He's been assigned as Chief Engineer to the USS Avalon to continue to oversee the practical usage of the drive, as well as the ship itself.
Cmdr Taylor is a brilliant man, and charismatic, but a bit of workaholic. He often forgets he has an engineering team to delegate work, and insists on handling all repair work himself and overseeing all major projects directly, often forgoing sleep for days at a time, unless otherwise ordered by a superior officer.(Actor: Undetermined)
Lt. Commander Veras Pol A 30-something male Bajoran, he did not actively participate in the war of independence on Bajor. His parents fled on a transport from Terok Nor and he spent most of his youth growing up in the free-trader societies, picking up valuable (and in some cases illicit) skills. He was approached by a Starfleet officer one day, and was offered sponsorshp to the Academy on one condition: Starfleet Intelligence saw his a potential recruit. While majoring in Tactical skills, Veras also went through SI training after graduating.
When the Dominion War hit, he was assigned to the USS Resolute with (then) Commander Jason Osbourne, and were attached to the fleet defending Deep Space Nine. The two became fast friends, and when he assumed command of the USS Avalon, he personally requested that Lt. Veras be promoted to Lt. Commander and transferred to the Avalon as Chief Tactical Officer.
Veras has a love of the cloak-and-dagger lifestyle, and after learning of Earth 20th Century spy holo-novels from Doctor Julian Bashir during the War, he has developed a passion to practice his more esoteric skills on these programs during much of his spare time. He has earned the ire and fearful respect of his crewmates, for his penchant for eavesdropping on conversations, and rumor-mongerng. His excuse is that he needs to keep his skills sharp whle shipside is little comfort to his shipmates. (Actor: David Wenham; Faramir from the Two Towers)
Lt. Commander Shiera Vetra Not much is known about this young-looking Andorian. She is the Chief Science Officer of the USS Avalon, but is very close-mouthed about her past. Her Starfleet record indicates a passion for the sciences and that her parents were famous scientist on Andoria, but little else. She does keep her hand-to-hand skills up, but has been depressed by the "lack of challenging opponents." She is taking an interest in Lt Cmdr Veras and his holodeck activities, however. (Actress: Undetermined; anyone known any highly attractive, physically fit women who can be both highly intelligent AND look good with blue skin and shoulder-length white hair?)
Lieutenant Tobin Pren This 250 year old Trill is the new helmsman for the USS Avalon. He has had 3 hosts prior to his current incarnation, one of whom served with James T. Kirk aboard the original Constitution-class Enterprise and its first 5 year mission. He is long on life experience, and comes off as easy to talk to. He considers himself as an assistant Counselor, and has established a friendly working relationship with the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Avalon. While his current host is rather young, the symbiotic pair has shown a remarkable knack for innovative (and SIF-straining) manuevers. Pren claims his best tricks he got from Sulu. (Actor: Corin Nemec; Stargate SG-1)
Doctor Tara Laiken Dr. Laiken is a 38yo Centauran woman, gifted with psionic abilities (primarily empathy and very limited telepathy). She studied on both Vulcan and Betazed and learned ethical and pacificist use of her abilities. She entered Starfleet Academy and went straight into the Medical Program. Her abilities give her an unequaled bedside manner, and she excels both as a physician and psychologist. She spent much of the Dominion War as a part of trauma team that moved from starbase to starbase, as the front flowed.
All the death and pain she felt during the war, affected her in ways that no one quite suspects. Instead of deepening her pacifism or making her more withdrawn, she has become even more empathetic. She has also developed an intolerance of aggrssive, imperialistic cultures and would gladly violate the Prime Directive to spare a species from unjust suffering and death. She has even decided that war itself is a good thing, provided it is just. She herself isn't quite aware of how deeply she has changed inside, but as event press, she will surprise many people, herself included. (Actress: Miranda Otto; Eowyn from The Two Towers)
For technical information on the USS Avalon, and the background info, as well as the rationales behind these various new technologies, check out this thread. http://forum.trek-rpg.net/showthread...&threadid=9381
Coming up next: Episode Synposis'
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