Act I, Scene I
Into the Imvi System
Finally, we're off. After a longer-than-expected gap since the overview post I finally sat down with some dice and got to play a little bit of Captain's Log. I found it a bit daunting at first, but decided to approach it as more of a journaling RPG than a traditional one. I think a strong suit of this system is its ability to get the ball rolling before fading into the background and letting your imagination fill in the blanks. Like I mentioned in the overview post, I'm going to try and structure these sessions like a typical Star Trek episode; So we'll start with a cold open to Captain Lorde's inaugural adventure...
"Here and Gone"
Captain's Log: Stardate 2147.95. The Insight has been dispatched to the Imvi system to investigate reports of a potentially revolutionary advancement in warp drive technology. According to preliminary intelligence, the Netase claim to have developed the capability to transport an entire space station across galactic distances; a remarkable, albeit unintended, byproduct of their experimental weapons research.
The Netase are not members of the Federation. As an independent and relatively reclusive species, they have focused their efforts on defensive armament, striving to safeguard their autonomy as they chart their own course through the cosmos. While not overtly hostile, their wariness of the Federation stems from negative encounters with more aggressive spacefaring civilizations. This, coupled with their perception of us as a potential threat, makes this mission exceedingly delicate.
Diplomatic overtures have yielded a tentative breakthrough. A Netase representative has agreed to meet aboard their orbital station above Imvi IX. Our objective is twofold: to approach this exchange with mutual respect and scientific curiosity while reassuring the Netase that the Federation seeks cooperation, not conflict. The stakes are high—not only for scientific discovery but for the foundation of trust between two civilizations.
Arrival
The Insight drops out of warp at the edge of the Imvi system and performs a preliminary long-range sensor sweep.
Sensor Check:
(Captain Lorde) Reason (10) + Science (3) vs (Ship) Sensors (10) + Science Department (4)
Target: 13 | Dice: 7 and 3 (complication/effect)
2x Success
Note: I typed out the rolls here because I kind of liked the idea of "showing my work", but I don't know if I'll continue doing it. We'll see how it goes.
The sweep confirms the Netase station is here, holding a high polar orbit above the gas giant Imvi IX. What is also confirmed, however, is the station has suffered some kind of damaging structural event fairly recently. Hull stress readings consistent with a large-scale energy discharge. Thankfully, not catastrophic (the station is still clearly operational) but notable enough that Lieutenant Vasek, my science officer, flagged it immediately.
Lieutenant Vasek
"Captain, the station's outer ring shows micro-fracturing consistent with a directed energy event. Not weapons fire, but something with a very similar energy signature." - Vasek's tone carried a particular brand of scientific restraint and could have meant anything from this is interesting to we should leave NOW.
Captain Lorde
"How recent?"
Lieutenant Vasek
"Anywhere from seventy-two to one hundred twenty hours ago, sir. The decay rate of the residual energy makes it difficult to be more precise."
I noted this down, the Netase had agreed to this meeting but hadn't volunteered anything about structural damage to their station. That's the kind of omission that could potentially mean the motives behind this meeting were not so innocent after all. I decided to hail the station...
The response came after a long pause; long enough to be deliberate and mildly suspicious. The face that appeared on the viewscreen was angular and pale, with deep-set emotionless eyes. The Netase representative introduced herself as Overseer Tarak; her look and attire precise and no-nonsense.
Overseer Tarak
"Captain Lorde. You are on time. This is noted."
Captain Lorde
"Overseer Tarak. Thank you for agreeing to meet; The Insight is here in the spirit of open exchange and understanding. We look forward to bettering our relationship and sharing information between both of our peoples."
Another pause; Overseer Tarak's expression unchanging.
Overseer Tarak
"You will be escorted to docking bay seven. Weapons are not permitted on station and must remain in your vessel. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of your rights and freedoms aboard the station. You will bring no more than three individuals onto the station. These rules are non-negotiable."
Captain Lorde
"Understood, we look-"
The channel closed with no further pleasantries and I had to make a choice before I can continue the first act... Who's coming onto the station with me?
Act I, Scene II
Captain's Log lets you generate supporting characters on the fly which is really nice and perfect for moments like this where I know I'll need someone but I have no idea who that person is. In the first scene I had already established Lieutenant Vasek as a science officer, so I decided a science officer was the obvious first pick given the nature of the mission. For the second crew member, I rolled randomly and generated a junior diplomat: Ensign Priya Okafor, a young human officer whose focus landed on Mediation and Cultural Studies. Perfect, I'll take it.
The three of us beamed over. I hoped taking a diplomat over a security officer wouldn't screw me too badly considering the mission isn't supposed to be combat heavy and weapons aren't allowed anyway. We'll see what happens.
The Netase station's interior is immediately striking. Functional to a point of austerity with every surface a shade of utilitarian gray or muted green. Captain Lorde immediately takes notice of the lack of ornamentation or any sort of decorative lighting. The air was cooler than standard as well, leading Lieutenant Vasek to take a note.
Two Netase guards wearing plain angular armor met us at the docking bay entrance and led us silently through a series of nearly identical and largely featureless corridors. Captain Lorde noted structural repair work visible at regular intervals; evidence that the station engineers were still actively dealing with the aftermath of whatever mysterious event took place before our arrival. Lieutenant Vasek gives Captain Lorde a nod, indicating he also notices the repairs.
We are brought to a spare meeting room. A table and five chairs sit in the center of a dull muted green room with absolutely no decorations. Overseer Tarak is already seated along with another Netase figure who she introduces only as a "technical liaison".
Presence (9) + Command (3)
Target: 12 | Dice: 5 and 9 (no complications)
1x Success
Captain Lorde
"Overseer, before we get to the matters of science, I want to be very clear; the Federation is not here to assess or acquire. We are here because what you may have discovered changes what we understand to be physically possible and we believe a discovery of this incredible magnitude is worth understanding together. We also know there will be others who are likely to hear of such technology and will not be as open to information exchange, but rather theft."
Overseer Tarak studies Captain Lorde for a moment. Something seems to have shifted in her demeanor - not warmth exactly, but indication that her cold exterior may be open to the possibility of relaxing pending this discussion.
Overseer Tarak
"You are Kazon."
Captain Lorde
"I am."
Overseer Tarak
"A Kazon in command of a Federation vessel... the Federation is broader than we were led to believe."
Ensign Okafor
"That's kind of the whole point."
(She didn't roll very well). It was objectively a risky interjection for an ensign in the moment, but the roll was technically a success.
Overseer Tarak's eyes moved to Ensign Okafor, showing the slightest bit of emotion that may even be described as amusement briefly before returning to Captain Lorde.
Overseer Tarak
"We will show you what happened. Then we will discuss the meaning."
Act I, Scene III
The "technical liaison" (who I named Doran in my notes because unnamed NPCs bother me) led us to a large lab that had recently undergone significant repairs. The space is easily forty meters across with a significant section of outer wall replaced with brand new metal plating. Some unknown equipment had been pushed to the walls on the other side of the lab and covered neatly with some sort of cloth and bound into uniform shapes. At the center of the room there was a perfectly circular pattern burned into the floor like a brand (roughly 8 meters across).
Doran
"The displacement event. The device was designed to project a containment envelope around a target at range for defensive purposes. The intent was immobilization, not transport. Unfortunately our calculations were... imperfect."
Lieutenant Vasek was already crouched near the edge of the burn, tricorder at the ready.
Lieutenant Vasek
"The energy discharge pattern here is consistent with a rapid phase-state transition. Captain, this isn't propulsion technology. This is more of a -"
Captain Lorde
"- a transporter"
Lieutenant Vasek
"A transporter capable of moving something the size of a damned building. The energy required should have completely ripped this station apart."
Doran
"Nearly the conclusion, thankfully not. Upon testing the immobilization field, a research outpost on Imvi IV reported a station section, Lab Module Seven, simply ceased to exist. Our long-range sensors detected a matching mass signature appearing just outside the furthest orbital perimeter of the system approximately four-point-two seconds later. The distance involved was... seven-point-eight light years. Which, as you must be well aware, is impossible."
The room stood in silence for what seemed like several minutes.
Here's where the dice decided to complicate things. The game has a mechanic for generating complications mid-scene and I decided to try it. The die result amounted to an outside party becomes aware of the situation. I thought about this for a minute and decided it makes sense - of course someone else would be listening in or at the very least casually investigating an energy signature of that magnitude.
Captain Lorde's combadge chirped. It was the Insight's acting commander, Lieutenant Commander Osei.
Commander Osei
"Captain, I'm sorry to interrupt but we have detected a ship dropping out of warp at bearing two-seven-mark-four. Ferengi."
Captain Lorde looks at Overseer Tarak.
Overseer Tarak
"The Ferengi have been circling this system for six days."
Captain Lorde
"You didn't mention that in the briefing."
Overseer Tarak
"You did not ask."
Act I, Scene IV
Captain Lorde (to combadge)
"Commander Osei, maintain position. Do not intercept; we don't need to give them a reason to start a fight."
Commander Osei
"Understood. They are hailing us, I'll transfer the signal to the station."
Captain Lorde
"On screen"
The screen flickers to life and the face looking back is everything you would expect from a Ferengi who considers himself incredibly charming. Wide grin, expressive lobes, and an outfit suggesting he is an incredibly successful businessman. He has his hands spread in a gesture of goodwill.
Daimon Jev
"Captain! A Kazon in a Starfleet chair, how refreshingly novel! I am Daimon Jev of the Perpetual Margin, and I want you to know, truly, that I have absolutely no interest in what those Netase have built on that station."
Captain Lorde
"Good morning, Daimon."
Daimon Jev
"A mutual friend suggested this system may have 'investment potential' and I am simply here to... evaluate. Atmospherically. From a respectful distance of course. The Ferengi are great admirers of Netase sovereignty, as you probably know."
Captain Lorde
"Of course. And what are you hoping to acquire, exactly?"
Daimon Jev
"Acquire?! Captain I am wounded! I am an acquirer of opportunities and relationships. Mutual understandings between parties who may otherwise fail to recognize their complementary, ahem, um.. uh - need for a device such as this; preferably before anyone locks its research data behind multiple committees and a proliferation treaty. You understand."
Captain Lorde
"I hadn't mentioned a device, Daimon."
A look of frustration and embarrassment flashes briefly on Daimon's face before his soft patronizing expression returns.
Daimon Jev
"Ah - well - ah, the Netase are a very device-oriented people. Scientifically speaking it's a general-"
Captain Lorde
"We'll be in touch."
The screen flicks off. Overseer Tarak had not moved her eyes from Captain Lorde during the exchange. Captain Lorde looks over to the Overseer.
Captain Lorde
"Do the Ferengi know about Lab Module Seven or are they only interested in the something that caused a massive energy signature in this system?"
Overseer Tarak
"Unknown. They know something occurred; they have not demonstrated knowledge of the specifics. Until you arrived they had not even made their presence openly known to us."
I decided I needed to move this along and figure out what the Ferengi wanted (I had an idea, they want Latinum obviously) and what they knew. I also thought it might be kind of fun to turn this into a potential betrayal in some way. We'll see what the dice say happened.
Presence (9) + Command (3)
Target: 12 | Dice: 8 and 6 (no complications)
2x Success
Captain Lorde
"Overseer, someone likely told the Ferengi you have something worth buying. I believe that person may be on this station. The Ferengi likely came out of hiding because they are afraid you are going to sell to us first."
With two successes I decided Overseer Tarak wouldn't just believe him; she would have had her own suspicions all along.
Overseer Tarak
"Access to the containment research is restricted to eleven individuals aboard this station. Myself, Doran, and nine members of the research staff."
Captain Lorde
"That's where we start. Before we talk about retrieving Lab Module Seven (a feat the Ferengi are no doubt waiting to observe as a lucrative 'proof of concept' that the technology works), we need to find out who on your station is selling you out. And do it before Daimon Jev decides waiting isn't working and tries something more direct."
Overseer Tarak looked at Captain Lorde for a moment, considering his request and weighing the pros and cons of allowing a Federation officer access to Netase personnel records.
Overseer Tarak
"I will grant you access to station personnel records and communication logs. Doran will facilitate. You will be... discrete."
Captain Lorde
"Absolutely, if the whistleblower knows we are onto them they'll be harder to find."
To Be Continued...