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| My well loved copy of the STA Core Rulebook, one of my many notebooks, and a starship model from Eaglemoss for inspiration. |
Would Anyone on a Federation Starship Know What a Ponzi Scheme Is?
A Federation cultural survey team studying a pre-warp culture sends out a distress signal. The culture they are monitoring is suffering economic collapse. It was triggered by "The Visitors" - aliens that arrived in orbit months ago and only communicate by a mathematical code broadcast by radio. Analysis indicates that the code is similar to various "universal" methods of communications developed for first contact such as linguacode. The Visitors made promises of technology, wealth, and power to various nations, corporations, and influential individuals. All they asked for were certain "trade goods" - refined materials, cultural artifacts, and specific technology. More and more of the planet's economy was tied up with providing the Visitors with what they demanded. However, what the Visitors offered in return was only just enough to fulfill the letter of their promises and keep the flow of trade goods going. The crew must investigate and find a way to undo the cultural contamination while playing lip service to the Prime Directive. Otherwise, the economic disaster will set the development of the planet back decades or even centuries.
How this plays out depends on who the Visitors are. The Ferengi and Orion Syndicate are the obvious choices, but that makes them the first the players will suspect. Independent criminals running a scam are fairly common in Star Trek. Or they could be members of the Obsidian Order or Tal Sh'iar up to something needlessly complicated. They could even be a Klingon House fallen on hard times and needing an infusion of wealth and resources.
"New Life" is Part of the Captain's Oath, After All
A panicked report from a Federation colony states the impossible - one of the local mountain ranges/deserts/forests/oceans/otherwise relatively immobile terrain features has started migrating. The colony's leaders are calling on Starfleet to intervene before it gets to the colony.
Dealing with the strange and weird is part of what Starfleet does. Much depends on what terrain feature is on the move. Mountains or deserts could indicate previously dormant silicon based life - although the mountains might be organic life forms with thick shells. Mobile plants and life forms suspended in water could explain migrating forests or oceans. Or the whole planet could be alive in some sense with different terrain features moving as the adventure upfolds. In any event, the crew has to figure out what they are dealing with and how to either talk to them (if they are sentient) or influence their behavior (if they are not).
Echoes from Minos
Starfleet Security began a records review after the Battle of Wolf 359 and other encounters with the Borg. Their intent was to find any indicators of earlier Borg incursions and opportunities to acquire information on the Borg threat. Rumors from the Lorenze Cluster suggest that the Minosians incorporated some newly acquired technology in their Echo Papa 607 before their own creation destroyed them. The source of that technology is unclear, but the similarities between the Echo Papa 607's ability to counter the means used against it and Borg adaptation are unsettling.
Starfleet left the planet Minos alone since USS Enterprise-D's search for USS Drake ("The Arsenal of Freedom" - TNG season one). A version of the Echo Papa 607 was used during the Ersalrope Wars as a reconnaissance system. The Echo Papa 607 that destroyed the Minosians and was encountered by USS Enterprise-D automatically deployed drones to gather intelligence, capture personnel, and attack targets. The system adapted to any tactics or weapons used to destroy a drone by deploying an improved drone capable of countering the means used to destroy the previous one. The system could manufacture and deploy an improved drone in twelve minutes. An Away Team from USS Enterprise-D was able to deactivate the Echo Papa 607, but not before the system had produced a drone capable of threatening a Galaxy-class starship.
Starfleet sends a starship to Minos with orders to recover any Borg technology incorporated into the Echo Papa 607 for analysis. There might be other autonomous weapon systems still active on Minos, so the starship chosen will either be well armed or have an escort. Even worse, the Federation aren't the only ones with an interest in Minosian weapons or Borg technology.
The Early Distress Call
The crew responds to a degraded distress call with a timestamp indicating that it will be sent hours from now. Subspace communications with the origin of the distress call - a Federation botanical research outpost - indicates that nothing is wrong. Did someone falsify the transmission or does the crew need to brush up on their temporal mechanics?
Is someone trying to lure the crew away from where they are supposed to be with a false distress call? Is something about to happen to the research outpost? If so, what does it have to do with botany?
No Prey, No Pay
The player characters are assigned to deal with pirates operating on the frontier. The pirates have been hitting all shipping in their area of operation. This has made them many enemies, including a few who are willing to overcome any distaste for working with Starfleet to shut the pirates down.
The players are faced with two challenges - finding a way to take down the pirates and dealing with all of the others who also want the pirates gone, but are prepared to be much more ruthless than Starfleet. A successful pirate operation depends on finding easy pickings and selling the loot. Making their targets harder to attack makes turning a profit more risky. Finding out who the pirates are selling to cuts off their profits until they can locate a new buyer. Cunning players may try to set a trap with a tempting target or by ambushing the pirates when they arrive at their buyer. Finally, the pirates will likely have a base of operations to rest, make repairs, and store their loot until they can sell it off.
Who the other enemies of the pirates are depends on the era. While the Federation has many rivals who are willing to ignore or even support raids on Federation targets, even they will not tolerate attacks on their own shipping. Unfortunately, the Klingons, Romulans, or Cardassians won't be too concerned with the risk to innocents in their efforts to wipe the pirates out. One twist is for the Orion Syndicate to aid Starfleet by providing clues and other covert support in dealing with the pirates. The pirates are hindering the movement of all goods in the area - including those shipments belonging to the Orions. Accepting their aid may mean that the Orions will be able to expand their operations after the pirates are gone.
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