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"Star Trek: the U.S.S. Sacagawea" Episode 4

Finding the pirate cove

“Steel Vengeance/Venganza de Acero” Bienvenidos. In the early 1800s, the town of Angelita on the California/Mexico border faced many perils, as masked heroes arose to defend the campesinos…. (Telenovela based on the stories of Francisco Quintero.)

Roderigo Cabrero Nunez, a prosperous local merchant, invites notable residents from across Angelita to his hacienda for a fiesta.

Dramatis personae (all are human, but extraterrestrials merely need costumes in holodeck):

“Maria-Joaquina Garcia-Barrientos” [Jason E.R./“Olivia”]: a widowed coloratura soprano from Valencia, retired

“Miguel Lopez-Moreno/El Corsario” [Jim D./“Sheras”]: gentleman duellist and masked vigilante

“Capt. Ramon LaCasa” [Bruce K./“Dakal”]: local sheriff

“Yiska” [Dexter V.H./“Salek”]: proud Navajo guide

“La Fantasma” [Cathey D./“Huli”]: female bounty hunter dressed in white (absent)

Retired singer Maria arrives in a cart adorned with fresh roses, looking to meet society after recently arriving from Valencia, Spain.

Gentleman Miguel arrives in a carriage, looking for Calevaras (“the Skulls,” villains who wear Dia de Muertos/Day of the Dead costumes).

Capt. LaCasa gets a ride to the manor with someone from town, while Yiska is hired as an armed guide.

Senor Cabrero Nunez introduces Seniorita Garcia-Barrientos to Padre Arturo Mendoza, the handsome pastor at the church of San Ebonio de Flores.

The cantata (singer) is acclaimed by hidalgas and meets Marqueta Rey Delgado, the wife of a government inspector, and Vanessa Cruz Suarez, a sensitive artist.

Capt. LaCasa asks Roderigo who is protecting the guests, and he assures the local officer that he has hired guards. Yiska declines an offer to serve as a waiter and eyes fellow hireling Leon Ortega Garcia.

Lopez-Moreno stays in the shade and tries to comprehend local culture and cuisine, while Yiska notes that Ortega Garcia seems familiar with Senora Rey Delgado. The indigenous scout also hears gunfire as people leave the fiesta.

Maria-Joaquina stays behind, as Ramon, Yiska, and Miguel ride to rescue the townsfolk from three highwaymen. The banditos exchange fire with the would-be heroes.

Ramon shoots one, and Miguel is winged. Yiska falls off his horse but catches up in time to drive off the remaining bandits. Roderigo Cabrero Nunez and the relieved villagers thank the trio as the holodeck simulation ends (for now)….

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Sacagawea. Our ongoing mission is to test the boundaries of science, understand and protect life in its infinite diversity, and boldly restore the United Federation of Planets….

Player Characters aboard the U.S.S. Sacagawea in Gene D.’s third “Star Trek: Restoration” online scenario, using Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment (FATE), Skype, Rolz.org, and Google Drawings, as of summer 2020:

“Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Sheras Ch’p’trell” [Jim J.D.]: male Andorian, assertive medical officer who trained in the Andorian Military Academy

“Lt.(J.G.) Huli” [Cathey D.]: female Benzite, meticulous scientist who distrusts Romulans and is homesick

“Lt.(J.G.) Olivia Sánchez-Navarro” [Jason E.R.]: female Terran human, curious security officer and champion sharpshooter

“Lt.(J.G.) Dakal Nakona” [Bruce K.]: male Romulan (Republic), ambitious helmsman eager to work up to command

“Lt.(J.G.) Salek” [Dexter V.H.]: male Vulcan, engineer, onetime Daystrom Award winner, and martial artist

Previously, the U.S.S. Sacagawea ventured into the Alpha Quadrant to explore and secure the edge of the U.F.P. It visited medical outpost Nasiri Station, and junior officers aided Cardassians allegedly injured in a “mining accident.”

The starship entered “the Badlands,” an area of space with nebulae, in search of raiders attacking passing vessels. Its intrepid crew defeated the Sword of the Prophets, drove off its two escort ships, and began interrogating its crew (Episode 3)….

Stardate 89357.2 (“10 May 2412 A.D./C.E.”/29 August 2020): After interrogating the Bajoran and Nausicaan crew of the Sword of the Prophets, which was equipped with a dangerous Subspace Rift Generator, the crew of the Sacagawea decides to take the captured ship deeper into the Badlands in search of secret bases.

Capt. Nasir Halaby assigns an away team to infiltrate the space pirates. Tactical officer Cmdr. Ressaunch assigns 10 security officers under the command of Lt. Sánchez-Navarro and Lt. Nakona. They will watch the Nausicaan mercenaries.

Chief engineer Cmdr. Zendia Lendavi orders Lt. Salek to be on the lookout for other exotic weapons and assigns five Starfleet engineers. Science officer Cmdr. Chandra Ramamurthy asks Lt. Huli to continue gathering data on energy fluctuations in the Badlands.

The team prepares aliases and communicator earpieces. Sheras takes on the name of “Ghalav,” a hero of Andorian literature. Olivia dons a utilitarian jumpsuit as weapons officer “Maria,” while Dakal wears camouflage pants and a black leather vest as pilot “Takar Serrano.” Salek dresses as Romulan information broker “Vremeer.”

Between Maria and Takar’s reconstruction of the ship’s logs and Lt. Huli’s scans, the Sword of the Prophets is able to find Cloud Atoll, a hidden asteroid base.

Huli and the Nausicaans stay on ship, as well as the engineers and eight of the security personnel. At the airlock, the visitors are greeted by Megiben, a male Denobulan.

Maria and Ghalav learn that Mibyc Doret and Jett Katan, the former Bajoran commanders of the Sword of the Prophets, had not only acquired the Subspace Rift Generator at an auction, but the captains of other ships in port owed them money.

They visit the Mad Howler and speak with Capt. Danae, a Caitian with an eyepatch. Rather than part with cash before the next auction, the fierce feline tells them that the Broken Tusk used a Matter Inverter to destroy a rival ship near Anchor Port.

The infiltrators also learn that the the Crusty Worm is expected in port for the next weapons auction. Its captain is a Deferi named Stagnez.

Takar and Vremeer see the Broken Tusk, which is guarded by a mysterious armored Tholian. The vessel is said to be captained by the Savage Crown, who has a reputation for meanness but whose species is unknown to Starfleet.

The two “Romulans” also meet Sanara Velan, another Romulan, who tells them that the starting bid is 5,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum. She then goes to talk with some reptilian Gorn guards.

Vremeer and Takar then meet Levalin Hosh, a female Vorta and the auctioneer. After seeing members of several traditional enemies of the U.F.P., the away team covertly regroups….

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SEP/2020

"Star Trek: the U.S.S. Sacagawea" Episode 2

Into the Badlands

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Sacagawea. Our ongoing mission is to test the boundaries of science, understand and protect life in its infinite diversity, and boldly restore the United Federation of Planets….

“Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Sheras Ch’p’trell” [Jim J.D.]: male Andorian, assertive medical officer who trained in the Andorian Military Academy

“Lt.(J.G.) Huli” [Cathey D.]: female Benzite, meticulous scientist who distrusts Romulans and is homesick

“Lt.(J.G.) Olivia Sánchez-Navarro” [Jason E.R.]: female Terran human, curious security officer and champion sharpshooter

“Lt.(J.G.) Dakal Nakona” [Bruce K.]: male Romulan (Republic), ambitious helmsman eager to work up to command

“Lt.(J.G.) Salek” [Dexter V.H.]: male Vulcan, engineer, onetime Daystrom Award winner, and martial artist

Stardate 89345.27 (“6 May 2412 A.D./C.E.”/13 June 2020): The U.S.S. Sacagawea had previously traveled from Starbase 621 to Nasiri Station, a medical outpost on the frontier of the United Federation of Planets.

On the way, several junior officers got to know one another as Lt. Sheras Ch’p’trell sparred with Lt. Dakal Nakona. They were briefed by senior officers aboard the Starfleet starship, which observed a Cardassian vessel also approaching Nasiri Station.

The away team reported to Cmdr. Gareth Percy and later tended to Cardassian crew members injured during a mysterious “mining accident.”

Sometime later, Lt. Ch’p’trell continues his research into the Cardassans’ iinjuries, while Lt. Huli conducts mineral and toxicology research. They discuss the possibility of new life forms, as well as the apparent fear among the typically fierce Cardassians.

Lt. Olivia Sánchez-Navarro and Lt. Nakona review astrogation records of “the Badlands,” a region said to be plagued by pirates. Dakal also proposes a weekly poker game in the lounge, which is staffed by holographic barkeep Burney Crabtree.

Lt. Salek drills the engineering team until Cmdr. Lendavi notes, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Cmdr. Ramamurthy asks whether the Sacagawea should set course for Dephra Prime, but Lt. Nakona and Lt. Sánchez-Navarro note that it would be a two-week detour to the Badlands.

Salek notes a fluctuation in the warp field and notifies the bridge. Olivia detects three cloaked ships. Huli uses the cruiser’s sensors to identify Bajoran and Nausicaan life signs.

The three vessels fire upon the Sacagawea, which returns fire as tactical officer Olivia disables an exotic power source. At helm, Dakal maneuvers the Starfleet ship to avoid being surrounded.

Dr. Ch’p’trell cites Andorian policy on pirates and offers to help with the interrogation. Scientist Huli is concerned about her samples and plans to speak with First Officer Ramamurthy.

Engineer Salek determines that the device aboard the lead pirate ship not only to emit graviton waves and fool sensors, but also to alter subspace. Huli dubs it a “Subspace Rift Generator” and asks for permission to board the disabled craft.

Lt. Sánchez-Navarro beams the pirates to the Sacagawea, but three Nausicaans inadvertently arrive on its bridge!

One of the mercenaries fires at Capt. Nasir Halaby, but Lt. Nakona jumps in the way and takes the hit. The others fire at Huli, Olivia, and Lt.Cmdr. Stanik.

Olivia shoots one and knocks down another. Dakal fires from the floor and hits the third. Huli injects one Nausicaan with a paralytic hypospray to no avail, but the quick-thinking Benzite slaps a comm badge on him and has him beamed to the brig.

An away team boards the Sword of the Prophets, and an ensign engineer sees a self-destruction countdown. Lt. Salek disables it.

Salek also recognizes that the Subspace Rift Generator uses the dangerous and exotic substance known as “red matter.” Olivia recommends hiding the Bajoran/Nausicaan pirate ship with an improved cloaking device.

Lt. Ch’p’trell and Lt. Huli lead the interrogation of Bajoran commanders Jatt Katan and Mibyc Doret. The man and woman claim that they are continuing the tradition of the Maquis, who felt abandoned by Federation peace treaties with the Cardassan Union decades ago.

Olivia and Dakal wait outside, as the Starfleet scientists try to explain that the technology the raiders used is very dangerous….

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AUG/2020

Vortex "game time"

-Circa -140 to -40 G.E. (Terran Galactic Era): The Archaic Era gives way to the Cyberpunk era [see Shadowrun: Idealistic metahuman groups [see Mutants & Masterminds: “the S.J.I.”] are supplanted by megacorporate mercenary organizations. “Near” humans (mutants, cyborgs, genetically modified) have limited civil rights.

-The development of bionics, virtual reality, and true neural interfaces results in the growth of cyberware and C-space. True Artificial Intelligences arise, and advances in genetic engineering lead to “Synths” (robotic and bioengineered humanoids).

-Ecocrises I to III: Environmental degradation results in global climate change, mass extinction, and famine. Population growth leads to poverty and fighting over resources but encourages colonization. Fossil fuels become scarcer, eventually leading to technological breakthroughs in “cold” fusion and “warm” superconductivity.

-Wars devastate large parts of the Middle East and South Asia; terrorists and disasters destroy cities in other parts of the world. Nation-states decline in relative power as megacorps and regional governments rise in influence; the United Nations collapses.

-c. -100 G.E.: Terran population reaches 15 billion, cities become megalopoli. Earth’s oceans and the Moon are colonized, “L-5” orbital habitats are built in response to population and industrial pressures, and humans explore Mars.

-The Ecocrises, regional conflicts, and covert megacorp activities are restrained with the creation of the United Earth Authority. Continent-states form on Earth; the Sol system’s population approaches 20 billion. Orbital cities grow; Mars is colonized.

-85 G.E.: First Interplanetary War: The Lunar Free State and some orbital habitats rebel against Terran colonial powers, becoming a quasi-independent corporate state. The Zarkonian Armada destroys Laransu, and Trinoids and Nethians found the Kharvamid Alliance.

-75 G.E.: Ecoterrorists disrupt research undersea and on Mars as terraforming begins. Humans colonize Venus and the outer Sol system, and the U.E.A. charters the Interplanetary Patrol.

-50 G.E.: Synths gain limited rights after several rounds of civil unrest.

-30 G.E.: Second Interplanetary War: Mars Confederation rebels against megacorps, gains limited independence and a seat on the United Earth Council. Asteroid Belt and Jovian system settled.

-20 G.E.: Jason Delmar is born near the North Eastern American Megalopolis (Party 1). Orbital elevators are built.

-10 G.E.: Covert and unofficial contact continues between galactic agents and the Sol system. The Zarkonian Armada resumes its expansion into the Orion Arm. The latest emergent interstellar civilizations are threatened: Aquarians/Polarians and Terrans.

-4 G.E.: Archaeologists discover ancient evidence of mystic and extraterrestrial influence in the ruins of the “Vanished Lands.” The United Ecumenical Movement is formed to consider the implications of the “Long Hiding.”

-1 G.E.: “Collateral Damage Inc.” begins missions, later renames itself “Full Circle” aboard the P.T.S. Venture and Spring Wasabi.

-0 G.E.: Open and official First Contact between galactic societies and the Sol system. Terrans (including Parties 5a and 5b, the crews of the Blackbird and Appomattox) acquire faster-than-light Transit drives….

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SEP/2011

The History of "Vortex" and related speculative fiction

-1968: Gene D. born; Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? published; Planet of the Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey premiered.

-1969: First Star Trek TV series canceled; Apollo 11 on the Moon.

-1977: Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope) opened in theaters.

-1978: Original Battlestar Galactica premiered on television.

-1980: Sundiver, the first book in David Brin’s “Uplift” series, published.

-1982 to 1983: Started playing Dungeons & Dragons and Star Frontiers and co-wrote “The Zarkonian Bomb,” an amateur movie script, with Carlo R., Bill B., Jon B., and Ray C. (“Vortex” Party 1).

-c. 1984: Began writing “The Adventures of Jason Delmar” space opera short stories.

-1986: Wrote original “Vortex” role-playing rules while visiting family in the Philippines. Playtested with Peter D. and David I.S. in Yonkers and Binghamton, N.Y., respectively (“Vortex” Party 2).

-1987 to 1989: Co-ran Shadowrun with Ken P.S. (“Vortex” Party 3).

-1991: Ran “Visor and the Seer” and collaborated in Steve M.R.’s “Voyagers II” using “Vortex” rules before converting to GURPS 3e (“Vortex” Party 3b).

-1992: Influential and prolific author Isaac Asimov died.

-1995: Space: Above and Beyond premiered.

-1996 to 1997: Game Mastered “Vortex: Collateral Damage Inc./Full Circle” using GURPS 3e Space in Virginia (“Vortex” Party 4).

-1997: The Fifth Element and Stargate SG1 premiered.

-1998: Farscape premiered on U.S. television.

-1999: Ran GURPS 3e Space: “Vortex_” via e-mail and for Jon W.P., Randy K.M., and Rob A.R. near Boston ("_Vortex" Party 4b).

-2002: Firefly premiered; D20 Traveller (“T20”) published.

-2005: The BBC revived Doctor Who.

-2008: Cubicle 7 published FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures (SBA).

-2010: Began running “Vortex” using SBA (“Vortex” Parties 5a and 5b, the crews of the Blackbird and the Appomattox).

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SEP/2011