Starting Star Trek Adventures

I’m happy to say I’ve started a new group and we’re going to be trying our hand at Star Trek Adventures. Here is a prologue:

Star Trek Adventures: Prologue

The door slid open with a chime. A tall, dark-skinned man wearing a Starfleet uniform and Captain’s insignia on the collar walked in. “Captain Thabo Mbeki, reporting as ordered.” He saluted and stood upright in a stiff, formal posture.

Admiral Hicks stood up from his desk and smiled, the gesture making him look much younger than his graying hair would indicate. He waved off the salute. “At ease, Thabo. You’re not even officially on duty yet. Please, have a seat.”

Mbeki paused for a moment, looking uncertain. “I was given to understand…that is, I thought – “

Hicks nodded in understanding. “You are wondering about your medical evaluation. Well, don’t. You’ve been cleared for duty. And we have a new posting for you.”

Mbeki took a deep breath, visibly relaxing. The admiral motioned towards the chair in front of him, and Mbeki let himself relax into it. “It’s taken so long, Adam. I thought Starfleet was through with me.”

“We’d all be fools if we were,” Hicks replied, “considering your knowledge and experience… and what you went through, for the good of the Federation.” The Admiral’s gaze scanned Mbeki. Starfleet’s surgeons had done an excellent job, but if you looked close enough you could see the scars on his face and head.

A sad smile came over the Captain’s visage. “Thank you for saying that. With the investigation, the months of interrogations, I was sure they were looking for any excuse to get rid of me.”

“Oh, some of them were. But I watched them like a hawk. Anyone attempting to cast doubt on your loyalty I gave chapter and verse to. Still, it was a near thing: I was the deciding vote on the commission. After what happened, some people are always going to have doubts. I know it’s unfair. But that’s just how it is.”

Mbeki looked down for a moment. “Yes,” he sighed, “the world is imperfect.”

Hicks gazed at his friend for a while, then reached under his desk, bringing out a bottle of blue liquid. He poured two shots, and slid one glass to Mbeki. “Medicinal purposes.”

The Captain studied the blue concoction, raising an eyebrow. “Is this…?”

“Yes,” Hicks smiled, “Romulan ale. Don’t ask me how I got it.” He downed his shot, the fiery liquid exploding in his mouth and down his throat. Mbeki shrugged, then followed suit.

After the tears cleared from his eyes, Hicks said, “Listen, the admiralty is not what it’s cracked up to be. You deserve a promotion. But given the -“

Mbeki waved him off. “I don’t care. I don’t want a promotion. I don’t want to command from a desk. I want to be out there, on the deck of my own ship, working on behalf of the Federation.”

Hicks stared at him for a beat. “You are sure that’s what you want? I get not wanting to become an admiral. And I know what the medical evaluation said. But tell me, man to man, are you ready to get back in the saddle?”

Captain Mbeki straightened up and looked the admiral straight in the eye. “Yes”, was all he said.

Hicks gazed at him, then nodded. “Very well. Then I am officially placing you back on duty. You will take command of the USS Venture, effective immediately.”

Mbeki’s eyebrows went up. “The Venture? So…the rumors are true?”

“Unfortunately yes. The incident claimed the lives of a good portion of the crew, including Captain Kulak and most of the command staff. The ship has been repaired, and awaits in the shipyard.”

Mbeki looked thoughtful. “A challenging situation. It will take time for the new crew to learn to work together as a team.”

“Unfortunately, time is a luxury you don’t have.” Hicks passed a tablet to his friend. “You have a mission. Here are your new directives.”

Mbeki frowned as he read, then looked up sharply. “Is this correct? A potential first contact, in the Epsilon Hydra system?”

Hicks nodded. “Clear FTL waves were detected from the borders of the system by Deep Space Six, near the neutral zone. There’s a lot of subspace interference in that region, so we don’t know how long that species has had the technology. We know nothing about them at all, in fact. But now that we know they’re there, and have the requisite level of technology, we’ve got to make contact before the Romulans do. And of course invite them into the Federation. So there’s no time to waste.”

“I understand.” Mbeki rose to his feet. “Thanks for everything you have done for me, Adam. I will not let you down.”

Hicks clasped hands with Mbeki. “I know you won’t. But be careful – the Romulans cannot be trusted. Godspeed, Thabo.”

As the Captain left the room, Admiral Hicks sighed, and poured himself another shot of Romulan ale. He paused for a moment before partaking. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had really done his friend any favor at all.

The adventure continues…