Star Trek RPG

USS Argo

 Last year for my birthday I ran a cobbled together version of Star Trek RPG I've been working on. You can read more about it on the Page devoted to it. This is a post about the actual adventure itself.

Star Date: 2013/13/09   Pilot Episode: When Gods Speak

 The USS Argo, a Hermes Class scout ship has arrived in the Nilbog system. The mission to retrieve samples from a comet that has entered our galaxy from beyond the void between galaxies. The comet itself has since impacted on the surface of an M class planet. It is inhabited by tribal level humanoids. A landing party is beaming down under cover of night to the crater for the mission. Interaction with local humanoids is unlikely as the crash site is in barren wastelands far from any known inhabited areas.

Landing Party

 The Landing Party is a full complement led by Commander "Rock" Ingersol, a Vendorian Intellgence Officer; Lt. Cmdr. Slixxis, a Vulcan Science Officer Lt. De'Suma Ton, a Caitan Technical Ensign Mr. Katsan, Security Officer Lt. Johnny Alpha, and Medical Officer Lt. N. "Doc" Peecee.

Transporting down to the planet without incident the party begins to make their way to the crater site, when they are attacked by uncatalogued inhabitants of the planet! Stun settings seem to have no effect and Commander Ingersol orders the party to "Set to Kill!"

battle with "trolls"

The "trolls" were scanned prior to disintegration and discovered to be a genetically devolved species of Nilbog humanoid. The party quickly made their way towards the crater just over a rise where it is discovered the comet has landed near an ancient ruin.

The ruins

 The obsidian monolith casts a dark shadow across the crater from the comet. The area is peppered with large chunks of non-terrestrial crystal that seems to pulse with life. In the distance a crumbled temple can just be seen. "Doc" relates that there are life-forms nearby.

ambush

Ingersol takes "Doc" and Lt. Alpha to investigate a life sign near the crater edge, while Lt. Ton takes Slixxis and Ensign Katsan to intercept the closer life sign hidden behind the monolith. A vulcan nerve pinch puts the tribal warrior down before he can cause any harm. Commander Ingersol however is nearly struck by an arrow fired by Nilbog warrior!

archery practice!

Lt. Alpha moves in for a heavy Stun on the tribal archer and lays him out! "Doc" says he's getting odd readings from the crytals... it's like they are, alive!?! Arcs of energy leap off the crystal and strike the crew. Ingersol and "Doc" feel light headed and groggy, but Lt. Alpha seems to have taken a turn for the worst!

Watch the crystals!

Lt. De'Suma senses the psychic awareness of the crystals reaching out for minds to control. The crystal entity is indeed hostile and seeks lesser lifeforms to dominate!

vantage point

Ensign Katsan has climbed the monolith, and his excellent night vision has allowed him to see an armed group of tribal warriors moving towards Commander Ingersol. Alerting his companions by communicator, Katsan takes aim with his phaser set to stun.

Ripped Shirt!

Cmdr. Ingersol is forced to melee with a mind controlled Lt. Alpha. "Doc" calls for De'Suma to try a nerve pinch as nothing seems to stop the controlled officer. With Lt. Alpha unconscious, De'Suma relates her psychic knowledge to the Commander. Ingersol believes the crystals must be destroyed before it can control everyone's minds. He blasts the crystal near him while communicating this information to the others.

Lt. Slixxis aims his phaser and blasts the alien crytals even as it attempts to overtake his mind. The crystal disappears in a glowing haze!

The tribal Nilbogs

The tribal Shaman, eyes glowing with a green light, urges his warriors to slay the outsiders! Concentrated phaser fire on the large crystal in the temple shatters its hold on the primitive aliens and the crew quickly retreats while the Nilbogs regain their senses.

Back aboard the Argo, the landing party relates their tale to the Captain and another incident is cataloged in the Federation files for Quadrant 44.

GM Log, supplemental: This was a first play test and went very well. I did opt to change quite a few things like dropping the D20 stuff entirely and switching over to a D6 model. see http://fartrekrpg.blogspot.com/ for more on a very cool Star Trek RPG. I stripped Far Trek down as well to make my own version. More soon.