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| Cardassian Galor - A ship class that's hard to find in 2372 canon. |
USS Orinoco Destroyed
Stardate 49300.7 ("Our Man Bashir" - DS9)
USS Orinoco, a runabout assigned to Deep Space Nine, is sabotaged and destroyed by the Cardassian terrorist group the True Way. All personnel aboard were successfully evacuated by transporter.
First canon mention of the True Way. More on them below.
Admiral Leyton's Coup
Stardate 49170.65 ("Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" - DS9)
The Bajoran wormhole begins opening and closing randomly. There are no unusual sensor readings and no ships are observed emerging. The cause is a subspace modulator attached to the wormhole com relay by Lieutenant Arriaga on the orders of Admiral Leyton. However, it takes some time for Deep Space Nine personnel to discover this fact.
The Antwerp Conference between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire is attacked by the Dominion. An explosive device is planted in the meeting room and detonates, killing 27 people. Analysis of a recording made of the meeting reveals the presence of a Changeling. Federation President Jaresh-Inyo declares a day of mourning on Earth.
Captain Sisko and Constable Odo travel to Earth aboard USS Lakota. Admiral Leyton appoints Sisko as acting Chief of Starfleet Security on Earth. The three put a number of anti-Changeling security measures in place over the misgivings of President Jaresh-Inyo.
Earth's power grid is sabotaged, leading to a global power outage. Leyton, Sisko, and Odo use USS Lakota's transporters to meet with Jaresh-Inyo. Sisko and Odo speculate that the random opening and closing of the Bajoran wormhole (the real cause still being unknown at this time) could have been a Dominion fleet using cloaking devices salvaged after the Battle of the Omarion Nebula. Jaresh-Inyo calls a state of emergency and places control of Earth's defenses to Leyton and Sisko. USS Lakota uses its transporters and communications systems to mobilize Starfleet personnel. Armed Starfleet personnel begin beaming down into the streets of Earth's population centers.
Sisko and Odo find evidence that the state of emergency was engineered by a group of Starfleet personnel led by Leyton. They find the first clues while investigating the sabotage of Earth's power grid and finding that it was the work of Starfleet Academy's Red Squad. They meet with Jaresh-Inyo, who points out that he would need irrefutable evidence of a plot to demand Leyton's resignation. Leyton later meets with Sisko and orders him back to Deep Space Nine. Sisko contacts Deep Space Nine on a Bajoran frequency and issues orders to Major Kira.
Sisko is arrested after a blood screening results in a false positive. Odo frees him from detention and briefs him on the situation. Lieutenant Arriaga's tampering of the wormhole com relay has been found and he is willing to testify against Leyton. USS Defiant is on the way to Earth with him aboard. Sisko goes to confront Leyton as Odo meets with Jaresh-Inyo to present his evidence.
USS Defiant is intercepted by the recently-refitted USS Lakota, under the command of Leyton loyalist Captain Benteen. The engagement is indecisive - the two starships are evenly matched and their commanders are unwilling to destroy their opponent. Ultimately, Benteen refuses Leyton's orders to destroy USS Defiant with quantum torpedoes. Instead, she hails the smaller starship, exchanges information, and escorts USS Defiant to Earth.
Sisko convinces Leyton to accept defeat. Leyton and the other members of his attempted coup are arrested and the state of emergency is lifted.
It doesn't seem likely that any hardcore Leyton loyalists were able to remain undetected after the coup. They left too much of an administrative trail for Sisko and Odo to find. Those who could claim that they were unaware of the plot or were able to make a deal by offering up testimony may have been able to salvage their Starfleet careers. Red Squad - who would show up later in "Valiant" - are an example of the former. This could be an interesting background element for a character.
These episodes provide a good example of how a conspiracy within Starfleet operates and how it could be uncovered by the player characters. Leyton's plot doesn't seem linked to Section 31. His resources were limited to those he could access as a Starfleet admiral. Every member of Leyton's plot was a uniformed member of Starfleet. Every communication and personnel movement left the administrative trails that Sisko and Odo later found. If Leyton were a part of Section 31, he would have been able to better conceal his activities by using Section 31's resources.
The True Way Targets Bajoran First Minister Shakaar for Assassination
No stardate given ("Crossfire" - DS9)
First Minister Shakaar arrives on Deep Space Nine for talks regarding Bajor's application to join the United Federation of Planets. He is targeted for assassination by the True Way, a Cardassian terrorist organization.
The True Way was described by Ronald Moore as a "...fundamentalist group dedicated to the return of the old Cardassian government." Their handiwork only shows up twice in canon. Both times they are committing acts of terrorism against the Federation or Bajor. A gamemaster could bring them in as a way to feature Cardassian antagonists without involving the Cardassian military. They could take the place of the now-defunct Obsidian Order as a covert threat for player characters operating near the Cardassian Union.
Aftermath of the Klingon Empire's Invasion of the Cardassian Union
No stardate given ("Return to Grace" - DS9)
The Cardassian outpost on Korma is destroyed by Klingon forces. At the time of the attack, the outpost was hosting a conference between Cardassian and Bajoran delegations sharing intelligence on the Klingons.
The Klingon invasion has devastated the infrastructure of the Cardassian Union. Some functions, such as the Cardassian health care system, have broken down completely.
Gul Dukat begins a guerrilla campaign against the Klingon Empire using a captured Klingon Bird-of-Prey. He has no support from the Detapa Council is expected to achieve limited success at best.
The Federation and Bajoran governments are willing to offer limited aid and intelligence to the Cardassians. Starfleet player characters may become involved in relief missions or exchanges of intelligence data in the face of Klingon opposition.
Klingon player characters may become involved with raids intended to further destabilize the Cardassian Union. Gul Dukat's raids might become annoying enough for the Klingons to try hunting him down. Unfortunately for the Klingons, a Bird-of-Prey is an ideal vehicle for a guerrilla campaign.
Klingon Forces Caught Laying a Minefield Around the Bajor System
Stardate 49556.2 ("Sons of Mogh" - DS9)
USS Defiant defeats the Klingon military's attempt to deploy a cloaked mine field around the Bajor system. The Klingon forces involved retreat without further incident.
The Klingons show remarkable restraint during this operation. They refrain from attacking USS Defiant or the runabout USS Yukon when they show up on the scene. In fact, IKS Drovana - a Vor'cha-class attack cruiser - accepts an offer of aid from USS Defiant after being crippled by a mine and is towed to Deep Space Nine. And the Klingon ships simply withdraws when USS Defiant begins to destroy the mine field they were laying. This may indicate a "cold war" mentality on the part of the Klingons involved - covert moves against the Federation are one thing, but opening fire on Starfleet without provocation is another.
Starfleet Provides Escorts for Relief Convoys to Pentath III
Stardate 49665.3 ("Rules of Engagement" - DS9)
The Cardassian colony Pentath III suffers from an outbreak of Rudellian plague as a result of the decline in public health. Pentath III's proximity to the Klingon border complicates relief efforts. The Detapa Council organizes several medical relief convoys, but the depleted Cardassian military is unable to provide escort ships. Starfleet agrees to to provide a starship escort for each convoy in response to a request from the Detapa Council. At least one of these convoys is attacked by Klingon raiders.
Starfleet player characters may be assigned to escort one of the convoys. The Klingon appear to be employing small numbers of older ships as raiders. The Klingons deploy a Bird-of-Prey and a K'tinga-class battlecruiser in against the state-of-the-art USS Defiant. This could reflect the low priority of attacking medical relief convoys - the Klingons are deploying their more advanced ships elsewhere. The tactics seen in the episode call for the Klingon raiders to attack the convoy and escort, cloak, reposition, and decloak for another attack.
Klingon player characters may be involved in convoy raiding, either one on its way to Pentath III or elsewhere in Cardassian space.
Admiral Leyton's Coup
Stardate 49170.65 ("Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" - DS9)
The Bajoran wormhole begins opening and closing randomly. There are no unusual sensor readings and no ships are observed emerging. The cause is a subspace modulator attached to the wormhole com relay by Lieutenant Arriaga on the orders of Admiral Leyton. However, it takes some time for Deep Space Nine personnel to discover this fact.
The Antwerp Conference between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire is attacked by the Dominion. An explosive device is planted in the meeting room and detonates, killing 27 people. Analysis of a recording made of the meeting reveals the presence of a Changeling. Federation President Jaresh-Inyo declares a day of mourning on Earth.
Captain Sisko and Constable Odo travel to Earth aboard USS Lakota. Admiral Leyton appoints Sisko as acting Chief of Starfleet Security on Earth. The three put a number of anti-Changeling security measures in place over the misgivings of President Jaresh-Inyo.
Earth's power grid is sabotaged, leading to a global power outage. Leyton, Sisko, and Odo use USS Lakota's transporters to meet with Jaresh-Inyo. Sisko and Odo speculate that the random opening and closing of the Bajoran wormhole (the real cause still being unknown at this time) could have been a Dominion fleet using cloaking devices salvaged after the Battle of the Omarion Nebula. Jaresh-Inyo calls a state of emergency and places control of Earth's defenses to Leyton and Sisko. USS Lakota uses its transporters and communications systems to mobilize Starfleet personnel. Armed Starfleet personnel begin beaming down into the streets of Earth's population centers.
Sisko and Odo find evidence that the state of emergency was engineered by a group of Starfleet personnel led by Leyton. They find the first clues while investigating the sabotage of Earth's power grid and finding that it was the work of Starfleet Academy's Red Squad. They meet with Jaresh-Inyo, who points out that he would need irrefutable evidence of a plot to demand Leyton's resignation. Leyton later meets with Sisko and orders him back to Deep Space Nine. Sisko contacts Deep Space Nine on a Bajoran frequency and issues orders to Major Kira.
Sisko is arrested after a blood screening results in a false positive. Odo frees him from detention and briefs him on the situation. Lieutenant Arriaga's tampering of the wormhole com relay has been found and he is willing to testify against Leyton. USS Defiant is on the way to Earth with him aboard. Sisko goes to confront Leyton as Odo meets with Jaresh-Inyo to present his evidence.
USS Defiant is intercepted by the recently-refitted USS Lakota, under the command of Leyton loyalist Captain Benteen. The engagement is indecisive - the two starships are evenly matched and their commanders are unwilling to destroy their opponent. Ultimately, Benteen refuses Leyton's orders to destroy USS Defiant with quantum torpedoes. Instead, she hails the smaller starship, exchanges information, and escorts USS Defiant to Earth.
Sisko convinces Leyton to accept defeat. Leyton and the other members of his attempted coup are arrested and the state of emergency is lifted.
It doesn't seem likely that any hardcore Leyton loyalists were able to remain undetected after the coup. They left too much of an administrative trail for Sisko and Odo to find. Those who could claim that they were unaware of the plot or were able to make a deal by offering up testimony may have been able to salvage their Starfleet careers. Red Squad - who would show up later in "Valiant" - are an example of the former. This could be an interesting background element for a character.
These episodes provide a good example of how a conspiracy within Starfleet operates and how it could be uncovered by the player characters. Leyton's plot doesn't seem linked to Section 31. His resources were limited to those he could access as a Starfleet admiral. Every member of Leyton's plot was a uniformed member of Starfleet. Every communication and personnel movement left the administrative trails that Sisko and Odo later found. If Leyton were a part of Section 31, he would have been able to better conceal his activities by using Section 31's resources.
The True Way Targets Bajoran First Minister Shakaar for Assassination
No stardate given ("Crossfire" - DS9)
First Minister Shakaar arrives on Deep Space Nine for talks regarding Bajor's application to join the United Federation of Planets. He is targeted for assassination by the True Way, a Cardassian terrorist organization.
The True Way was described by Ronald Moore as a "...fundamentalist group dedicated to the return of the old Cardassian government." Their handiwork only shows up twice in canon. Both times they are committing acts of terrorism against the Federation or Bajor. A gamemaster could bring them in as a way to feature Cardassian antagonists without involving the Cardassian military. They could take the place of the now-defunct Obsidian Order as a covert threat for player characters operating near the Cardassian Union.
Aftermath of the Klingon Empire's Invasion of the Cardassian Union
No stardate given ("Return to Grace" - DS9)
The Cardassian outpost on Korma is destroyed by Klingon forces. At the time of the attack, the outpost was hosting a conference between Cardassian and Bajoran delegations sharing intelligence on the Klingons.
The Klingon invasion has devastated the infrastructure of the Cardassian Union. Some functions, such as the Cardassian health care system, have broken down completely.
Gul Dukat begins a guerrilla campaign against the Klingon Empire using a captured Klingon Bird-of-Prey. He has no support from the Detapa Council is expected to achieve limited success at best.
The Federation and Bajoran governments are willing to offer limited aid and intelligence to the Cardassians. Starfleet player characters may become involved in relief missions or exchanges of intelligence data in the face of Klingon opposition.
Klingon player characters may become involved with raids intended to further destabilize the Cardassian Union. Gul Dukat's raids might become annoying enough for the Klingons to try hunting him down. Unfortunately for the Klingons, a Bird-of-Prey is an ideal vehicle for a guerrilla campaign.
Klingon Forces Caught Laying a Minefield Around the Bajor System
Stardate 49556.2 ("Sons of Mogh" - DS9)
USS Defiant defeats the Klingon military's attempt to deploy a cloaked mine field around the Bajor system. The Klingon forces involved retreat without further incident.
The Klingons show remarkable restraint during this operation. They refrain from attacking USS Defiant or the runabout USS Yukon when they show up on the scene. In fact, IKS Drovana - a Vor'cha-class attack cruiser - accepts an offer of aid from USS Defiant after being crippled by a mine and is towed to Deep Space Nine. And the Klingon ships simply withdraws when USS Defiant begins to destroy the mine field they were laying. This may indicate a "cold war" mentality on the part of the Klingons involved - covert moves against the Federation are one thing, but opening fire on Starfleet without provocation is another.
Starfleet Provides Escorts for Relief Convoys to Pentath III
Stardate 49665.3 ("Rules of Engagement" - DS9)
The Cardassian colony Pentath III suffers from an outbreak of Rudellian plague as a result of the decline in public health. Pentath III's proximity to the Klingon border complicates relief efforts. The Detapa Council organizes several medical relief convoys, but the depleted Cardassian military is unable to provide escort ships. Starfleet agrees to to provide a starship escort for each convoy in response to a request from the Detapa Council. At least one of these convoys is attacked by Klingon raiders.
Starfleet player characters may be assigned to escort one of the convoys. The Klingon appear to be employing small numbers of older ships as raiders. The Klingons deploy a Bird-of-Prey and a K'tinga-class battlecruiser in against the state-of-the-art USS Defiant. This could reflect the low priority of attacking medical relief convoys - the Klingons are deploying their more advanced ships elsewhere. The tactics seen in the episode call for the Klingon raiders to attack the convoy and escort, cloak, reposition, and decloak for another attack.
Klingon player characters may be involved in convoy raiding, either one on its way to Pentath III or elsewhere in Cardassian space.
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