APPROVED FO THE USS HORIZON S4 E4
Mission Title
What should the name of the mission be?
- THE FOX AND THE WOLF
Mission Overview
What is the general overall plot of the mission. (No spoilers... think of a movie or TV show teaser/trailer).
- Since the initial contact with the USS Horizon, the Federation is eager to establish relations with the Draxx, the first spacefaring civilization found in the pocket universe beyond the Azimuth Horizon. But like all first contact missions with an unknown species in uncharted space, this is one as perilous as it is promising.
Especially when the Ferengis demand to be part of the mission to get their fare share of this new market...
Requirements
What are the requirements specifically related to your mission?
Type of Ship
Indicate what type of ship is best suited for this mission (i.e. Explorer, Cruiser, Dreadnaught, Science, Escort), or "Any", and provide additional details about any special attributes the ship needs to possess.
When doing so, please keep in mind the fleet of ships currently in the RP so that the story may be more easily selected for use.
- Any ship can be sent but the initial attitude of the Draxx will depend of the type of ship:
- Capital ship (USS Horizon); already known and respected, it will be challenged by a Draxx capital ship so that each one can show his mettle.
- Warship (Alsea, McKenzie, Spectre as carrier or torpedo platform); the Draxx will be greatly impressed by the Alsea's familiar "pack" design, the power of the diminutive Mckenzie and the Spectre's power and especially it's DYCEP system if and when displayed in a challenge (a cruiser for the Alsea and Spectre, an escort with the McKenzie).
- Other (Phoenix, Lotus, Spectre in non combat platform); the Draxx will despise such ships (unless surprised and outclassed in combat; then they will be greatly impressed) and attack them with the intent of capturing the ship and plunder it. A cruiser will be sent against it.
Mission Objectives
List the primary and secondary objectives for the mission.
- Primary Objective:
- Command; Establish diplomatic relations with the Draxx
Secondary objectives:
- Command: make sure the Ferengis do not spoil the talks as they will have a hard time being respected by the Draxx who will initially consider the Federation alliance with them both a weakness and an insult (you would put us on the same footing as these preys?)
- Science: Find the elusive nomadic Draxx in unknown space and learn about their civilization. The easiest way is to play the prey by sending a distress call or leaving a damage trail for them to hunt and lure them in. As a culture, they are much reminescent of Feudal Japan and Mongolian nomadic lifestyle with an ancestor and hero cult.
- Tactical: Fight the Draxx in space combat and possibly also in personal combat. They use the classic wolfpack tactic in space (2 alternative waves each side, simultaneous wave at the front and at the rear). They are much like Klingons regarding personal combat (bravery, Honor,) but rarely fight to the death; they prefer submission.
- Medical: provide assistance to the Draxx after the challenge and learn about their species. They are wolf-like humanoids with keen senses and the size and power of Hirogens. males are larger but females are still impressive and more agressive, especially when defending their mate or progeny.
- Engineering: provide assistance to the Draxx after the challenge and learn about their technology. They have advanced transport and starship coupling, comm and sensor technology and gravimetric weaponry. They don't have holographic technology.
Story Acts
Detail the story in several (at least 2) acts so that certain goals are known ahead of time and can be met based on what is written here. (Again, no spoilers, but do your best to split up the story into distinct parts).
Act 1
General information about what is to occur in Act 1.
- Travelling to the Azimuth Horizon portal, the ship is met by a Ferengi D'Kora demanding to join the mission in the name of the Alliance. Refusing them would cause a serious diplomatic incident... but having them might risk them becoming a liability. And their ship will emerge damaged from the travel through the portal, making them a target for the Draxx.
Act 2
General information about what is to occur in Act 2.
- The Draxx come and challenge the Starfleet vessel (see above for the initial attitude depending on the ship). The situation is complicating by the Ferengi ship needing to be protected as it is also seen as fair game... and the Ferengi might choose the wrong move.
The Draxx will act and later behave according to what the Starfleet ship (and the Ferengi ship) will do:
Retreat/Flee : the Draxx will despise the coward and pursue to disable, board and capture. The ship will be plundered and the crew executed.
Surrender/Parley: the Draxx will shrug, board and capture. The ship will be plundered and the crew emprisonned as cattle to be eaten.
Fight/Resist: if victorious, the Draxx will respect the vanquished. The ship will be plundered and the crew used to train their warriors in gladiatorial games where their survival and success will earn them further respect. If 50%+ of the Draxx force is defeated, they will desist and offer to meet as equals for an alliance.
Outsmarted/Outmaneuvered: The Draxx will be greatly impressed and offer to meet and know one another to discuss the possibility of an alliance.
Because of the alliance, the Starfleet ship is bound to help the Ferengis, whatever the action they take and it's outcome. (up to the captain/GM. Anything from following Starfleet's orders and contributing fully to it's success or failure to running away to be captured and forcing the Starfleet crew to champion them in combat to earn back their lives and freedom).
Act 3
General information about what is to occur in Act 3.
- The confrontation between the Draxx and the Federation representatives. Regardless of the outcome in act 2, it will happen first on the Starfleet ship and then continue on the colony ship of the Draxx coming for the occasion.
3 possible outcomes:
- Success: an Alliance is established between the two people. Trade, technological and cultural exchanges are negociated (opening then the possibility of a Draxx exchange officer later). membership with the Federation is unresolved until the Draxx accept the follow the UFP Charter (which prohibit their slavery and cannibalistic practices). This could become just like the Klingon-Federation alliance.
- Undetermined: a Non-Agression Pact is signed; no exchange is agreed upon for now but the Draxx agrees to give safe passage to Federation ships and citizens just as they accepted the colony on Eden III as custodian of the prison planet Eden IV. The Ferengis might still succeed in negociating a trade agreement but the Draxx will accept only if done through Starfleet as they do not respect the Ferengis. This could lead to a demilitarized zone as existed between Cardassia and the Federation.
- Failure: no agreement is achieved and the Draxx consider the Federation as competitors (and the Ferengis as prey) and will not tolerate them in their space. They will be allowed to flee immediately back to their own universe. The colony alone will be tolerated as a Neutral zone as it is custodian of Eden IV but with a Draxx garrison posted there. This could lead to a situation like the Earth-Romulan war.
GM call.
Act 4
General information about what is to occur in Act 4.
- Note on the Draxx vessels: The Draxx are anomadic spacefaring civilizations living in blood-tied groups called Packs. A pack is usually made of a 6-part colony ship (population 43,776) each part made of 6 joined capital ships (crew of 1216) that can each divide into 6 cruiser class ships (crew of 216), each subdivising into 6 escort class vessels (crew of 36) that can each in turn separate into six attack runabouts (crew of 6).
More Acts
If you have more than 4 acts planned (generally you shouldn't), list the rest here.
- It is highly recommended to read the 3rd Fleet Action Brave New World to be familiarized with the Draxx species and their ships and the situation of the Eden Colony.
