Day 16-Are there any direct threats?
"For this next entry I decided to consult with two of Starfleet Security's best and bravest [in my humble opinion]; officers I consider not only colleagues but friends. A professional and heartfelt thank you to Lt. Sierra Lynn Tall Trees and Lt. M'Hara for consulting with me on this subject."
(L) Lt. Tall Trees, Chief of Security, USS Prosperity
(R) Lt. M'Hara, Former Assistant Chief of Security, USS Prosperity
Current Chief of Security, USS Persistence
Confirmed Threats
The Kzinti Patriarchy
Lt. Tall Trees: "The Kzinti, also known as the Kzin, are a species of humanoid, feline-like, intelligent carnivores with parasol/scalloped ears, a stooped posture, digitigrade legs, and long thin tails. Their culture is highly aggressive with a complex system of personal honor not unlike that of the Klingons. They are a male dominated society whose female are said to be 'barely sentient' and as such they greatly underestimate the female members of the species they meet.
Emblem of the Kzinti Patriarchy in 2276
Beginning roughly seventy-five years ago, the Kzinti Patriarchy and the Earth fought in four wars commonly referred to as the Kzinti Wars. The Kzin lost every one of them. As the political, social, and economic connection between Earth and the other members of the Coalition of Planets solidified, the entire council arbitrated the Kzinti's surrender following the final conflict about 50 years ago. As per the Treaty of Sirius, the Kzinti were completely disarmed but allowed to maintain their own internal police force and ships for the purpose of trade and emergencies.
Unfortunately, groups of Kzin privateers have attempted to circumvent the Treaty and obtain weapons and defenses capable of returning their species to 'its former glory'. As recently as five years ago, a large group of Kzinti in league with the Patriarchy government stole and reverse-engineered weapons technology that belong to the First Federation. They used this to attack the nearby colony established by the female-led Kasheeta Matriarchy. While the Kasheeta held their own for a while, they eventually requested the assistance of the UFP and Starfleet, who sent in the USS Prosperity. After then Chief of Security Lt. Commander Carr implants false information into a Starfleet Monitor Outpost the Kzin have 'bugged', the Prosperity and Kasheeta are able to lure the Kzinti into a trap and their forces are defeated.
The Treaty of Sirius, Updated Monitor Stations, regular Starfleet Patrols...all great ways to insure the Kzinti don't rebuild their military and try to get too big for their britches once again. But they will. They're going to try. They have a history of being sore losers and I don't see that changing anytime in the near future.
Depowered or not, I still recommend viewing them as an active threat."
The Orion Pirates of Tango Sector
Ensign Shae:
"These are the Blue Orions, or OR-ee-ans as they chose to pronounce it, that the Prosperity began encountering once attached to Deep Space 4 and started exploring the Tango-8 and Tango-9 Sectors.
Emblem of The Orions of Tango Sector in 2276
Consumate scoundrels, pirates, scavengers, and raiders who often appear to be proud of such titles. These Orions are an alliance of separate colonies and numerous starships all operated under the same banner.
Whether or not they desire to be recognized as a single political power is actually unclear but we've already seen evidence that many of their forces are affiliated and allied. A group of three Orion vessels encountering an opposing starship will move away, only to return with additional ships for reinforcement.
At present, their long term goals and objectives remain unclear beyond continued piracy, 'claim-jumping' salvages, and other interstellar crimes. They appear to be operating more like the Orion Syndicate than a true 'fleet', little more than starfaring organized crime.
That said, their 'Raider Class' starships have engaged Starfleet vessels in direct combat, establishing themselves as a hostile force representing a hostile entity, regardless of the actual structure of their government, military, or lack thereof. "
The Romulan Star Empire
Lt. M'Hara: "The Romulan Star Empire may very well be our (the UFP's) most competent and competitive rival. Like us, they explore, research, trade, and enforce their borders will military might when necessary. To that end, I can respect them.
However...that's where it ends.
Emblem of the Romulan Star Empire in 2276
What makes them different from the Federation is we're generally exploring to gain knowledge that will help improve the lives of our citizens. Every citizen. We use force to protect lives and prevent incursions by hostile beings. We don't try to conquer, we don't use knowledge only to benefit the wealthly and powerful, and we make friends, not subjects or serfs.
*A grim smirk crosses her lips* That's a pretty key [Cygnetian Expletive - Can Not Translate] difference in my book.
What prevents us, the Federation and the Romulans, from constantly butting heads at every turn? Very little I'm sorry to say. Yes, there is the Neutral Zone. We have amazing Sensors watching them. They have Cloaking Devices to sneak past us. We have Photon Torpedoes. They have Plasma Torpedoes. It's a race, a challenge, a struggle to see who can tear down the wall and get away with it first.
Once we tear down the wall, we'll extend a hand in friendship. Once they tear down the wall, the knives will come out and the disruptors will fire. Again, pretty [Cygnetian Expletive - Can Not Translate] different."
Potential Threats
The Khelayan Assembly (Formerly The Khelayan Syndicate Combine)
Lt. Tall Trees: "After decades and decades of suffering under Klingon rule, the Khelayan people were able to throw their conquerors off of Khelaya with a combination of weapons secretly purchased from Orion Traders and gear stolen from the Klingons themselves.
(L) Vault War - Khelayan Syndicate Combine and (R) Current - Khelayan Assembly
Not long after, an unprecidented seismic disturbance revealed a massive structure formerly buried beneath the planet's surface - The Vault. The hollowed out mountain was found to be a long lost command center and armory constructed by the Janissaries, a militant offshoot of the ancient and highly advanced Precursors.
Adapting to and reverse-engineering some of the Janissary technology, the long picked on Khelayans became the bullies, attacking ships belonging to the Klingons, the Orion Syndicate, and eventually the Federation. Things continued to escalate and eventually a state of war was declared between the Khelayan Syndicate Combine and the UFP. Starfleet won the decisive battle and in the process, the Janissary's creations essentially self-destructed.
With the aid of Starfleet and Federation Diplomats, a contingency of Khelayan dissidents who opposed the aggressive plans of their 'Vault Commitee were placed in power, reforming the Khelayan Combine into the more peaceful and democratic Khelayan Assembly. The Assembly has proven a very effective political entity but so much of their efforts and resources have been focused on restorations and reparations for the activities of their predecessors. The Federation is supplying aid in exchange for access to the destroyed Janissary structures and machinery for scientific study.
I feel for the Khelayan people; for those dragged onto a path and into a war they didn't want to be a part of. But...a great many Khelayans made the conscious decision to act like their oppressors after being freed from oppression. That has a cost and they need to pay it.
I believe the Khelayans have learned a lesson from this ordeal and they will prosper as a result. I know they will. However, there are still Khelayan ships out they that may have learned nothing. We need to keep our eyes and ears open for those misguided spirits."
The Mazzulan Enclave:
Ensign Shae:
"The UFP's first encounters with the Mazzulans occurred when the latter attacked shipping lanes near the Federation worlds of Therbia (Aaamazzara), Delta, and Rhaandar, causing Starfleet to label them a hostile species and their vessels as pirate ships.
After a Federation Security Council meeting revealed Ambassador Nagsot 108 [of Arcturus] had amassed tactical intelligence on the Mazzulans dating back over a decade, at attempt was made on his life. His diplomatic shuttle was sabotaged, forcing it to crash on Dinom II and marooning the Ambassador, Capt. Anne Fletcher, Commander Bhoth, Commander Carr, Lt. Wilder, two other Starfleet Officers, and the assassin! After the Prosperity crew managed to keep everyone alive and got them rescued, the saboteur felt she owed them for and not only admitted to her crime but explained what prompted the Mazzulans' actions.
They [the Mazzulan Enclave] were not actually angry with the Federation but rather scared our intel would end up leaked to their real enemy, the Romulans. The Mazzulans are proud but also desperate and it drove them to bad decisions. Now, after Capt. Fletcher and the Prosperity helped moderate the Mazzulan/Romulan dispute and 'resolved' the Beacon of K'atrahal situation, our relationship with the Enclave is significant'y different.
The Mazzulans are now open to diplomatic talks with the Federation and we are cautiously optimistic about future relations between the two. However, take that with..the Human expression is 'a grain of salt'. The UFP and Starfleet remain wary. Any power that can become that aggressive that quickly when they believe themselves backed into a corner is a too volatile to trust so easily so soon.
(L) The Mazzulan Enclave and (R) The Mazzulan Navy
I will conclude my entry on the Mazzulans by saying I would personally categorize them as potential allies and not potential threats. It will take time but I believe many of the Federation member species have more in common with the Mazzulans that initially perceived."
*Although I have created a great many NPCs for this campaign (that's the understatement of the century), I also encouraged the 'Department Heads' to come up with various members of their staff. Alex created about a dozen Engineers operating under Commander Bhoth, Leo created a much smaller number of Scientists, and Arthur came up with a half a dozen key Security personnel. Landing Parties might beam down with two expendable Security Officers but if we knew there was going to be trouble you might have these two accompanied by a named officer like Lt. Tall Trees. After surviving time after time, Tall Trees became a well liked background character and I thought about making her the Assistant Chief of Security, until...
**Lt. M'Hara started as a Player Character, run by my [at the time] girlfriend Esmeralda. After a few sessions she couldn't make the games anymore but I liked M'Hara so she stayed on as an NPC. Eventually, after one of our 'Season Finales', I decided to open the next season with Tall Trees as Asst. Security Chief. Wait...what happened to M'Hara? Transferred to the USS Persistence and promoted to their Chief of Security.
***The idea up above is that each character is giving information about the main antagonist of the season when they were top Security NPC. If the antagonist is current to the campaign, I had Ensign Shae chime in as well.
"Next, a brief history of war as it applies to our current region of the frontier..."
AD
Barking Alien
Happy Luna New Year! 2026 is the Year of the Horse! Gong Hei Fat Choi!
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