Day 3-Where the heck are we?
The Star Trek: Prosperity campaign has covered a lot of ground over the past dozen years and by ground, I mean space of course. A lot of outer space. The PCs have visited dozens upon dozens, perhaps hundreds of planets, time/space anomalies, derelict ships, and space stations across many hundred of light years.
After years of successful missions that resulted in the ship getting upgraded and its crew receiving more responsibility, prestige, and choice assignments, the vessel operated out of the then newly completed Deep Space 5 and explored Sectors Sierra-12 and Tango-8 (Season 7 and 8). At present (as of this post), they are operating out of Deep Space 4 and trying to both explore and re-establish safe travel and trade in (primarily) Sector Tango-9.
Federation Outposts Deep Space 5 and Deep Space 4
"The frontier borders of Federation Space and those of the Romulan Star Empire meet at the Space Sectors of Sierra-12, Tango-8, and Tango-9.
Sierra-12 is in the Alpha Quadrant, while Tango-8 is in the Beta Quadrant. Those borders and designations are used by us, we sentient starfaring beings, to aid in describing where we are, where we came from, and where we're going. In practice, starships move between these quadrants and sectors without much fanfare.
This part of space is quite the paradox, containing well established, long standing civilizations, and yet there are a good number of unexplored worlds. Due to its proximity to Romulan Space, the focus of the UFP and Starfleet efforts in Sierra-12 and especially Tango-8 were to aid and protect Federation member worlds and bases. 'Exploration would come later' was the thought while expanding into the area. In fact, that is exactly what happened and here we are. That's where the Prosperity and other Starfleet vessels come in.
As abstract 'lines in the sand' that truly matter go, one need only look to the Romulan Neutral Zone. That area is marked by numerous patrols and outposts, both manned and unmanned, on both sides of the border, constantly watching to insure no one breaks the established political agreement to not venture into each others backyard.
Unfortunately, that zone is violated more than you'd think.
On a personal note, this was one of the shocking things I learned when I left my planet and traveled out into the void. My homeworld of Cheron is...or rather was...located in Romulan Space. For all I knew we, the Cheronians, regardless of which side was black or white, we the center of the galaxy. We weren't though. We were one island surrounded by a vast sea designated 'The Romulan Star Empire' on maps.
I remember...
I learned astrogation, astrometrics, and Stellar cartography largely on my own. My world was isolationist and my species more than a little xenophobic, since they considered themselves superior to the 'monochromatic' peoples of the galaxy and didn't want to fratenize with 'lesser' species.
My schooling was limited, since 'my people' were considered inferior and not worthy of a fully realized education. I had always loved the stars though; every night I dreamed of leaving Cheron behind to travel among the distant lights in the endless darkness. One day, I did.
I found navigating space to be easy but navigating the politics and social dynamics out here much harder. I've only come as far as I have thanks to my captain, the crew...my friends."
Ensign Shae smiles a little awkwardly, takes in a deep breath, and continues.
"Tango-9 is a particularly interesting region. Prior to the Earth-Romulan War it was controlled by the Romulan Empire. When the Romulans lost the Ectair system, a key source of Romulan Ale production, the Romulan people dropped a good deal of their enthusiasm for the war.
As the Andorian Imperial Guard and their fleet were vital to that particular win, the planet Ectair and a few other locations in the region were given over to the Andorians. Today the system, renamed Mozinphar's Star, is a joint Human-Andorian colony that produces some of the best Andorian Ale offworld of Andor itself.
Reorganizing the Imperial Guard into Starfleet means that many of the Andorian Ships that patrolled and protected the Tango-9 Sector are now no longer there. Orion Pirates (specifically Blue Orions or OR-ee-ons) have attempted to take advantage of this. In addition to their standard duties and operations, Starfleet vessels in the region have to be ready to offer aid to Federation citizens in the sector and extra vigilant against opportunistic scoundrels."
Next up, a map of the recent and current campaign regions.
Ensign Shae is very excited.
AD
Barking Alien
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