Game Idea 11-08-2006
The PCs are part of a crew sent to support the negotiation of a Peace Treaty.
The Planet Vodel was an Orion descended world along the Federation/Klingon Frontier. Beset by pirates and corruption, the King of Vodel hired Klingon Mercenaries to come clean the place out. They did - violently.
Now the Klingon Mercenaries are preparing to declare themselves overlords. The League of Non-Aligned worlds is scrounging funds and troops to try and push the Klingons off, aided by Orion Worlds all over the region.
Starfleet and the Federation want three things - they want to avoid a destablizing Klingon quagmire on the Federation Border that could destablize the sector.
They want to avoid the precident of the League of Non-Aligned worlds becoming a true Military alliance, or even a pro Orion polical group outside the Botchok neutral zone.
They'd *like* to make friends with Vodel and the other Orion Descended worlds in the region (something they're not cirrently doing as well as they'd like.)
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Challenges
The Klingon Over lords are not entirely unified. Some want to profit, some what glory and the reputation for successful battle, others are looking to rehabilitiate their houses, fallen on hard times. Some of the groups like the Federation, most are neutral, and some hate the Federation.
The Orion Crime Syndicate has an interest in driving the Klingons off world (So they can claim it themselves) and may go ahead and start a campaign of terror, guerilla warfare, asssassination and corruption without waiting to see if the Federation is going to succeed or not.
Vodel Partisans may also begin campaigns of terror, sabotage and guerilla warefare against the occupying klingons.
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GMs note - many of the Klingon Forces occupying Vodel do not want to stay - they know a quagmire will essentially bleed them white and set them up to be destroyed by their own rivals.
The Kinbg of Vodel does NOT want to be liberated by other Orion Descended world - if they don't take over his planet outright, the Syndicate will be hot on their heels and he'll have accomplished nothing.
One answer is to bring the Klingons and the King of Vodel together - if the Klingons Support Vodel as long term security contractors, then this is a good result - they'll be motivated to keep him in control and he can help the Kling factions through economic supports.
But this would take delicate negotiation.
The King of Vodel will, in effect crawl into the Federation's lap if offered Federation troops as peacekeepers.
Starfleet will grin publicly but be unhappy. This is an expensive option that uses people, ships and money they want to use on other things. This will also exacerbate anti-Federation feeling among some Klingons. Some of the Factions could turn to banditry and piracy dseeking revenge angainst the Federation.
Almost certainly Orion Syndicate forces will enaged in a campaign of subtle sabotage and corruption to try and force the Federation out.
But in the long run, if the Federation could keep order on Vodel, and maintain good a good relationship with the Vodel regime, they could wind up with a very federation friendly planet if not a member.
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Running this as a game -
Most groups would be assigned to be security, investigators and problem solvers while guarding and facilitating a Federation Commissioner's negotiation. The GM might create sub conflicts between Orions and Klingons, between the Klingons and between Klingons and Starfleet people for the PCs to resolve.
Keep it moving and fluid to keep the PCs engaged. They are just barely heading off asassination attempts, armed uprisings and sabotage by Orion Syndicate hitmen.
I'd open up the discussion at some poitnt about HOW the Federation should proceed and use the player's opinions as a guide for the goals of the Comissioner.
d20 - 11
d100 - 08
1108 -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1108
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Devol
Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this material for me.