Ths purpose of this thread is to act as an ooc thread for the Star Trek Distant Horizons roleplay. This thread will house discussions on storyline, character development, plot ideas, concerns, questions.
Character sheets are to be posted in this thread once approval has been given.
And now that that little piece of business is out of the way, let me welcome you to the Interest Check for Stark Trek: Distant Horizons. In this version of the Trek universe, the Federation of Planets is a thing of recent history. In our universe, the Federation of Planets has fallen to the Dominion as a result of the Dominion War. The divergence from cannon occurs during the Episode arch (Favor the Bold / Sacrifice of Angels), when the Prophets prevented a large Dominion fleet from exiting the alpha quadrant side of the wormhole. In our universe, this never occurred. The Dominion Fleet indeed did come through the worm hole, and the tide of war shifted in the Dominion/Cardassian’s favor. Deep Space Nine was destroyed, along with the Defiant in defense of Bajor.
Bajor was the first to fall. The Federation’s Ninth Fleet took heavy losses against the Cardassian/Dominion fleet, and the support to hold the station simply was not there. With a newly fortified hold on the wormhole, the Dominion’s war machine flexed its might, and within six months the Dominion made a run for Sol. For six months the Federation had been pummeled on all fronts, but any significant incursion into their space hadn’t been attempted. Losses continued to mount on the front lines, as the Federation tired time and again to re-take the Bajor Sector and the wormhole.
Then again, Wolf 359 stepped into the history books as the Federation Armada made its stand against the Dominion fleet bound for Sol. The odds were similar to those faced by the Ninth Fleet, a 2 to 1 advantage enjoyed by the Dominion. The battle was costly, and as a result, crippled the Federation of Planets' ability to further engage the Dominion in any directly offensive way for the remainder of the war. With the Federation fleet destroyed, the Dominion successfully engaged the Sol defense fleet, and took Earth.
The fall of their capital left the Federation fleet disorganized, and the Dominion left them little time to regroup. Within a week, Andoria and Vulcan were both in Dominion hands, effectively collapsing the United Federation of Planets…
This was two years ago.
Today the former territories of the Federation are suppressed under Cardassian boot, under the umbrella of the Dominion. Most citizens are having to adjust to life under the Cardassian caste system, and though some manage to do so quite peacefully, the streets of the major cities have become places of public execution, corporal punishment, poverity. The once golden civilization of the United Federation of Planets, where equality and peace reigned, is replaced by a world in which the shadows belong to the Obsidian Order. Nightmare has become reality, as utopia bends to dystopia.
But still some fight!
Pockets of freedom fighters continue to press on against the Dominion hand that holds them. Much like the Bajorians in their bid for independence against the Cardassian Union, these freedom fighters are isolated groups of refugees: disenfranchised, separated, and often ignorant of each other. They fight, knowing the odds. They fight to bring freedom for their families and friends. They fight to liberate their homeland, in remembrance of a once glorious and powerful Federation… Because they will not be subjugated. Because they have not given up hope.
**Character sheets do NOT have to be in the following format, however, please try to include at least these key pieces of information in your sheets.
Name:
Race:
Age:
Appearance: (A picture is fine, but please also provide a descriptive paragraph)
Biography: (any prior Fleet experience? Rank?? Their reason for fighting??? Any personal fallout from the Fall of the Federation? (Did someone die? Did they lose a business?? Something else of value. Why are they fighting??) Life prior to the fall? Life afterwards?) **these are ideas, just flesh the character out.
Skills/Training: (If a fleeter, what branch/department where they? How long?)
Personality: (Please keep in mind that this roleplay is set in a very dark time for the Federation. )
11-29-2012
Jeddaven
Moving my post here:
Perhaps the Dominion is slowly falling apart due to the S31 virus, and that allows the rebellion some measure of success? Just a thought.
11-29-2012
msisko
my concern about the S31 virus is the time.. I don't know what the condition would be of the Founders at the time of the roleplay if the virus is left unchecked. The female Founder seemed pretty bad by the time DS9 ended with the virus.. don't see them living 2+ years in that condition.
11-29-2012
msisko
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruby
S31's pretty fanatical. If they could end the very group that destroys Earth? They would. Because it leaves the rest of the Federation. S31's to ensure the survival of the Federation. Earth does not necessarily equal the Federation, despite how many a Trekkie views it. lol I'm sure the Vulcans, Andorians, and Centaurians would disagree. Could one of them snap and ruin everything, giving the Dominion a cure? If it's the right one that snaps. So, yeah, would work for the game. This is all assuming there is a 'cure' created. Wouldn't it just be like S31 not to make a cure in this case? Heh.
The Klingons were pretty devastated, even at the end of DS9. The Romulans were the best off, having come in so late. And if you gave them a Scimitar or two? Well, that might be OP. lol
The Dominion War Sourcebook, if you don't already know it, Google it and download it. I think Last Unicorn Gaming did that, and not FASA. I think. I collect RPG source books. (Should see my Ice and Fire collection. Heh.)
As for me...I don't know. I'm interested, and waiting for the OOC. Not quite committed. After being flooded with post-apoc type settings (which is what this feels like) that reduce the game to raw emotes and harsh survivals recently, probably due to the success of Zombie games, I just can't quite commit until I see more. But it's all well written, and you definitely know the setting up and down (I'm betting you've spent some time RPing Trek before), so I'm certainly interested. =)
Thanks!
- - - Updated - - -
You might consider 'Worms'; essentially cylinder shaped stealth shuttles that has one end for onload, and the opposite end for 'drilling'/offloading. Using mining technologies and re-engineering them to create a lot of small shuttles designed to 'eat' through the exterior of a large capital ship, and board it. Cheap option. Defiants won't be available. Mining technology will likely be. Especially since it's often in out of the way places, as mining colonies usually are.
Like I said in the previous message, I'm just concerned about Founder condition at the 2 year mark. The section 31 virus seemed pretty degenerative, I think they'd have died off in less than 2 years if it went unchecked.. the section 31 option is just a nice and tidy way of dealing with that plot thread, while also possibly exploiting it later... I do have some ideas concerning this..
But if there are any other ideas on how to use the virus, I'm open to suggestions. I like to brainstorm, the best ideas happen that way.
and it is sounding a bit post-apoc in feel, which I wanna try to streer away from a bit. YES, it is a post war situation and the people aren't so happy about Dominion/Cardassian rule.. but I'm looking for more a peroid of unrest feel.. with some civil disobediance.. not so much every city on earth was leveled and the population are starving... but more, here come these damned Cardassians again telling us what we can and cannot do. Where sentiment is strong that they want the Dominion gone and the Federation back... but aside from some collateral damage form the inital battle for Earth, the Dominion has done nothing but install a stiff pentalty for 'treason'... which I figured out be more prominent at first, and die off as the message became clear that they aren't goign to back down from their position.
I do LOVE the idea of using mining craft to infiltrate vessels, and it is one I hadn't considered. Its brilliant, and is right around the initial level of tech I wanted to employ. Thank you for the suggestion.
- - - Updated - - -
I did want some discussion about where to start things off. I intentionally left this vague on the Interest Check so it could be decided upon by the group.. But initially.. what were you guys thinking of as starting points? SOL sector? Bajorian Sector? Somewhere more remote?
11-29-2012
Jeddaven
Somewhere remote would be good. Sol would likely be heavily occupied, and the area around Bajor is too close to the wormhole. Too many dominion reinforcement and too fast.
Michael Laramine Forester
“Death (or its allusion) makes men precious and pathetic. They are moving because of their phantom condition; every act they execute may be their last; there is not a face that is not on the verge of dissolving like a face in a dream.” - Jorge Luis Borges
Human / 39 / The Resistance
Appearance / Personality/Biography:
Thick, brown hair, Brown eyes. Michael stands 5’7”, weights nearly 160lbs on a muscled, athletic frame. At one point, Capitan Forester had been known for his boyish charms and smiles. He had been consider to be a very outgoing individual who hadn’t met another he couldn’t make friends with. But all that changed with the Dominion war.
During the war he changed from an easy going, fun loving individual to a man who seemed to take the world upon his own shoulders. He had a crew to look out for, lives that he knew rested in the palm of his hand, and it was a responsibility that he didn’t take lightly. The Ishtar was his family, his friends, and as any good captain should, Michael felt the weight of each of their lives resting on his shoulders each and every time the Ishtar engaged the enemy in battle. The responsibility changed him, matured him. He began to smile less often, though more heartfelt when he did. He talked less of idle things, and more of friendships, of family and the things that truly came to matter during that war.
The Ishtar was destroyed in the battle against the Dominion at Wolf 359, and though Michael had been ready to go down with his ship and crew, the transporter beam of the USS Loviatar had pulled him away from that fate, along with only a handful of the Galaxy class starship’s crew. The loss of the Ishtar, of his friends and their families wasn’t something Michael easily learned to live with, and comfort came only at the bottom of a bottle of whiskey in the solitude of his quarters during off hours.
When the Federation fell, it was as though Michael’s universe crumbled along with it. He fell into despair, took to the bottle even harder than before. He would drink away the pain, silence the voices that called to him in the night with alcohol and sweat, or he would drink himself out of existence. At first, he couldn’t handle it.
Then one day a fight broke out between a man wearing a uniform of the now collapsed Starfleet, and the Jem’Hadar peace keepers on Earth. The man was beaten without mercy, his only crime was he wore the uniform of a fallen enemy. Inciting rebellion that charge was uttered, after the peace keepers cleaned his blood from their uniforms. Michael had only watched, judging joining the fray suicide, but in the aftermath, when he was sure the man’s spirit had been loosed from his body, he made that man a promise that steeled his soul. That the Dominion would not conquer.
And in that moment, the war ceased to be over in Michael’s mind…
Skills/Training:
Starship Command: 2 years as CO USS Ishtar, Galaxy Class Starship.
Piloting: As an ensign – Lt. Jr Grade, Michael Forester served as a Beta Shift helmsman for the USS Hood. He also piloted shuttle craft for away missions on occasion.
Advanced Hand to Hand (Boxing): A past time, usually how Michael unwinds in holodecks. Can often be found sparing with the computer, or with another member of the resistance / crew. Took Advanced Hand to Hand at the academy.
Hazard Operations: As a junior officer, Michael Forester was assigned to the Hazard Operations team, USS Hood.
11-29-2012
Ruby
Quote:
Originally Posted by msisko
I do LOVE the idea of using mining craft to infiltrate vessels, and it is one I hadn't considered. Its brilliant, and is right around the initial level of tech I wanted to employ. Thank you for the suggestion.
Welcome! =)
11-29-2012
Gunther
I like your idea, msisko. Here's my CS for your review:
Name: Nicolas "Nick" Harman
Race: Human
Age: 30
Starfleet Rank: Lieutenant
http://hiphollywood.com/wp-content/t...292&w=500&zc=1
Appearance: Nick is 6'2" tall and weighs 200 Lbs. He is physically fit and shaves his head. He has dark skin and brown eyes. He speaks with a French accent. Before the invasion, Nick was always impeccably dressed. Today, he considers appearance to be of low priority, but does keep his head shaved.
Biography: Nick has studied Martial Arts since he was five years old. At age 12 he received his first black belt in Chinese kempo karate. By age 15, he was introduced to the sword and fell in love with the elegance and grace a person with a finely crafted sword can be. He trained with a local master in St. Etienne in the way of the sword; mind, body and sword until he became qualified to be called a sword master or the Japanese term, "Kensei". He received this status just over two years ago. It was prior to the Cardassian invasion.
Nick was born in Saint Etienne (Saint Stephen, European Alliance). His parents worked in politics, but his family had all worked at the Weapons Manufacturing industry in St. Etienne; Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne(MAS). French is Nick's native language, but he learned to speak English and German in school. He has since learned some Bajoran after serving in Star Fleet. After graduation from High School, he attended Star Fleet academy in San Francisco and was commissioned as an Ensign working in Operations (Pilot/Navigations). He excelled in combat skills from shooting to hand to hand combat; with swords being his specialty, but there is rarely a need for this level of weapons skill.
Nick was initially assigned as a pilot aboard the USS Sentinel (NCC-1733-B), Sovereign class heavy explorer. He was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade aboard the Sentinel and received his certification in navigations during this time period. He spent four years aboard the Sentinel before being reassigned to Starfleet Operations at the Academy in San Francisco. Nick was promoted to Lieutenant (O3) shortly after returning to the Academy to work in Operations under Admiral Lefebvre. He served at the Academy in various capacities including teaching assistant for two years before the Cardassians attacked.
Nick was one of the lucky ones, in that he was able to get away from the built up areas and head east into the Rocky Mountains. During this time of self isolation, he has learned that his entire family has been killed. He has learned that anyone caught wearing a Starfleet uniform is executed. Since learning this little tidbit, Nick has shed his uniform and wears dark trousers and the dark wool turtleneck as depicted above.
There have been rumors of a resistance forming on earth and somewhere out there. Nick didn't know where to go, but felt he needed to leave Sol. He found an armed freighter making runs toward the Romulan Neutral Zone and other distant locales. He signed on as a pilot aboard the Freighter Island Pearl. With each planet they arrive in, he keeps his ears open for words of a resistance. His desire to rid the Cardassians from Earth is fueled by his hatred for them. A hatred fomented by the deaths of so many he loved, including many friends in Star Fleet.
Skills:
- Pilot (Sovereign Class Starship or shuttle)
- Navigations,
- Kempo Karate
- Kensei (sword master)
Personality: Nick is generally quiet and keeps to himself. He refrains from passing judgment on other people until after they've opened their mouths and proven to those present how stupid they truly are. Nick will help out someone who appears to be fumbling with a problem as long as they don't take advantage of his kindness. Once someone takes Nick for granted, he sort of "writes them off" as useless and wants to have nothing to do with them. He has a deep seated hatred of the Cardassians or anyone associated with the Dominion. He understands why some humans ally themselves with their oppressors in order to survive, but he places these individuals low on the respect meter.
Items carried on person: Dark trousers, white T-shirt, black wool sweater, black combat boots, tricorder, Phaser Rifle, hand held phaser and collapsible Katana.
Race: Klingon
Age: 80
Appearance: A Relatively short klingon, Adapt with kicker moves for his hieght, and
slightly thin. His shoulders are far broader than one initially thinks they are. The ridges in his cranium are deep and
impressive. Jak has hair that is long, black and scruffy which in light of his situation he refuses to tidy.
Biography: Though he was the Leader of a minor family, Jak Tra-ell still had found himself
rivals in both Families and personal combat.
The Warrior Culture required he be honourable, a begrudging social norm he accepted but as one
such rival had attacked his wife, Maern Tra-ell, Jak had filled with a typical rage and declared an honourable
duel with the rival.
For Jak Tra-ell Considered this a final straw, Tavert Naren along standing rival of House Tra-ell had taken
great joy in stealing what honour and privileges his family had earn, Taking to the spotlight when the two
were in wars and arenas. He would spread false rumours which would only squashed when Jak would
publicly denounce them and declare honourable but non lethal combat with dissenters, Tavert occassionally
questioning whether he would declare deadly combat, though Tavert knew he was no match physically for Jak Tra-ell.
So when Tavert decided it would be fun to assault Jak Tra-el's wife. He charged to Tavert and said one thing
“Combat declared” before back-handing him.
In the midst of combat, Tavert, Jak's rival, had lost all will to fight and threw down his weapon, offering his life
as an unarmed and un-opposing warrior, hoping that jak would honour the Klingons warrior code, but in the flurry
of rage Jak threw away the code of honour and slew Tavert with a single slice of the left edge of his Batlith.
It was irrefutable, Jak had slain an unarmed opponent who did not attempt to defend himself.
He had dishonoured his family, His bloodline and himself for which The High council gave it form in his
Discommendation. Though, He quietly regards himself lucky that he alone was Discommended
and it left his family alone but, like the Genetically altered plague that swept through his people, he will not
Speak of it
As the War between the Dominion and Federation escalated, He began to seek great battles to
Earn back his families honour. He saught Glory and honour in battle, hoping that his
Victories will prove his honour,
To this end, He Joined the Federation and became a member of the Starship – Horrander which was eventually
destroyed in battle, though the crew able to evacuate in time, leaving Jak with the disenfranchised rebels. Though unlike some of the rebels from the ship, He considered it "A Good Battle... Just not good enough"
The Rebels he was with seemed to have been in America, a place Jak has no clue about. He wondered if it was some place of importance to them.
Skills/Training:
Klingon Warrior Code and combat,
Batlith Training
Federation Starship Training: Naval Security
Personality: His speech is blunt and sometimes cold, reflecting himself as
the prospect of a battle which will either earn him glory fades. He is ocassionally obnoxious loud but In
Battle the only sound he makes intentionally is his battle cry, Deep but a hawk screech to it
He is, after his discommendation, now obsessed with his honour and will not break it what so ever.
Aged Batlith
Ceremonial Warknife
Hand Phaser
Classic Klingon COmbat Armour
Resembles a human in appearance, were it not for the distinguishable series of ridges across her nose. Standing at 5'5" weighing in at 130lbs, she has an athletic frame accompanied by toned muscles due to vigorous training. An obnoxious scar protrudes across her left cheek, often times purposefully hidden by her long, brunette hair to prevent questions. Her right ear displays an elaborate earring, worn as a symbol of her faith.
Biography: Sarish was born in Bajor during the Cardassian occupation of the planet, her parents soon after were executed. She was raised in a labor camp for ten years before she was recruited into an underground movement, a resistance against the Cardassian military. Being taught hand-to-hand combat as well as receiving vigorous training in weaponry, she learned quickly and excelled in her newfound skills. Throughout her teenage years, she fought the enemy, showing no mercy in her bloody killings. Now at the age of twenty-eight, her experience in the Bajoran Resistance earned her a commission into the Bajoran Militia, where she furthered her training in other fields such as piloting and medical.
During the Dominion War, all of her friends had either disappeared or had been killed. With nothing left to lose, and with anger coursing through her veins, she hopped on board a ship with a respectable Bajoran officer and his small crew, assisting in any way they could to rescue their fellow Bajorans. With her prior experience in resistance fighting and stealth, her presence was very much appreciated. As people were rescued, their wounds were treated fairly well by Sarish before joining them in the fight.
To this day, she continues to experience night terrors, visions of her past life in the labor camps. Almost every night she will wake up screaming, only to find herself in the comfort of her own bed with tears streaming down her cheeks. After the episode, she will quickly put her emotions under control and carry on throughout her day in confidence. Very rarely will she ever smile, saving her efforts for something worthwhile.
Personality: Sarisha has a very strong hatred towards the Cardassians, given her prior experience with them as well as their assistance aiding the enemy in the Dominion War. Towards all others, though, she remains calm and is respectful until they deem themselves unworthy of her kindness. Overall, she has a soft spot for others in a similar situation as herself, and would even go out of her way to maintain a loyal friendship. Unfortunately, her emotions sometimes get the best of her. The bottled up rage from the past and current resistance is often either vented by the end of the day through sparring or cleansed through meditation. She still has faith in her religion and prays to the Prophets daily.
