Proposal for DS Station, Cocoon Fleet
by Phil Long.
This idea comes in the form of a mission and a little background
on the surroundings of where the station will be.
1 Basic Mission:
A Starship is sent to investigate the whereabouts of the
USS ARDENT, a ? class starship. The ship sent will travel deep
into The Cocoon. The ship will be found docked with an unknown race's
Space Station. The only surviving crew member of the damaged ship is
Commander Dala Terlarn, the bajoran CO.
The Space Station has been abandonded for a long time, it is run
down. Crew from the ship will beam over to the station and search for
the crew of the USS ARDENT(which is heavily damaged). As they are
searching a previously unknown race will arrive near the station, some
time later another will. It is clear that these two races are hostile
toward each other(in fact they are at war).
2 Area Background:
The DS Station is located in territory that boarders with two
races, The Dergrad and the Vurtedions..
A nebula lies 5 lightyears away from the station which will become
of great interest to the crew of the station.
2.1 Within the Nebula:
Rumours from other races indicate that the station was
abandoned when the inhabitants became afraid of whoever and whatever
dwells within the Nebula. The mystery of the race will never be solved,
but strange encounters will occur occasionally. If anybody tries
to investigate anything that might be a clue to their nature they
will be somehow transported away. Memory erasure will deal with
anybody who does find out about them.
The Nebula is also of interest to scientists(ARDENT's mission was to
drop off probes in the Nebula), this makes the DS station a suitable
stop off point for science vessels. Also it will be useful for ships
traveling much deeper into the Cocoon to allow their crews shore leave
before month-long journeys.
2.2 The Main Races:
Their are two major races between which the DS station is
located. These are the 'Dergrad' and the 'Vurtedions'.
2.2.1 Dergrad:
The Degrad races goverment is a dictatorship led by an Emporer.
A group of 'advisors' serve under the Emporer and control aspects of
Dergrad life:
Military
Civilian Control
Resource Management
Science
Diplomacy
This is in order of importance to the Dergrad people. The Emporer
of course has the last say in decisions made by the Advisors.
Basic laws are if you defy the system, the Emporer or the
Advisors you die. The majority of crimes on the Dergrad homeworld
and their ships are punishable by death. The odd minor crime results
in a punishment based on public embarrasment of the criminal and their
family.
Technology wise the Dergrad are inferior to the Federation
(although not necessarily to the DS Station). Technology is around
60 years behind and mostly geared towards military use. Non-military
technology is around the same levels as SF was in the time of ST:TOS.
The Dergrad are hostile toward all alien races. They have
seized control of several races planets and won several wars against
resistors. They do have a tolerance to Aliens but at a very low
level.
2.2.2 Vurtedions:
The Goverment of the Vurtedions is led by a democratically
elected President and council. Their main goal is to explore, much
like the Federation. They have a strong interest in science.
The justice system is similar to Earths.
The Vurtedions are technologically inferior to the Federation
Military wise. Inferior by about 70 years. Their scientific
level though is around equal showing that is where they concentrate
their resources on. However with the war with the Dergrad they have
had to concentrate on developing their Military.
The Vurtedions are quite a peaceful race but are paranoid
about meeting new races. This is mainly because the first race
they met were the Dergrads who have taken it upon themselves to
conquer several Vurtedion planets. They mourn the loss of resources
to developing weapons when they could be enhancing their scientific
technology.
2.3 Relations:
2.3.1 Dergrad and Vurtedion War Situation:
Tension between these two races is high. Although they are
not at all-out war, a few minor scuffles have occured and if they
encounter each other the Dergrad will certainly initiate a battle.
However the Vurtedions are becoming more bold in their fighting
techniques as technology improves rapidly.
Hostilities between the Dergrad and Vurtedion races began when
the Dergrad discovered a planet occupied by the Vurtedions. They
conquered the planet with little resistance fom the Vurterdion and
proceeded to take several more. At the time the Vurtedion had only
lasers as defense, they had no effect on the Dergrad ships. Once
several planet had been conquered the Vurtedions switched all their
researchers onto the development of weapons.
Recently(over the past 10 years) the Dergrad and Vurtedion people have
engaged in negotiations resulting in several treaties during which some
basic technology and terrortorial sharing occured. Unfortunatly
they have never been able to keep to the Treaty guidelines.
Treaties:
SD 00521 Treaty of Niberius Prime: The first of the treaties
-00527 to be established. This was kept for 6 days and ended
when a Dergrad starship rebelled and destroyed the
population of the Vurtedion planet Niberius III.
Too proud to admit one of their people had rebelled
the Dergrad began to attack the Vurtedion again.
SD 31102 Treaty of the Black Zone: Second treaty. Broke in
-40201 a similar manor to the Treaty of Niberius Prime after
3 months.
SD 60805 Treaty of Niberius III: This treaty was established
-71225 hoping that the location it was negotiated upon would
help in controlling the actions of the Dergrad.
It suceeded, but unfortunatly broke after 1 year when
a Vurtedion science vessel destroyed a Dergrad ship
during a power transfer. The Dergrad maintain to this
day that it was an act of aggression by the young
Vurtedion Captain.
2.3.2 Dergrad and Vurtedion Relation to the Unknowns:
Both the Dergrad and Vurtedions have had encounters with the
race that resides within the Nebula. The Dergrad were the first to
encounter them, being the closest to the Nebula.
The Dergrad first encountered them 250 years ago when they first went
out to conquer space, most of the encounter is remembered through
Myth-like accounts of the destruction of Dergrad's entire battle fleets
by an indescribable hive of aliens. The 'myths' suggest that a Dergrad
hero saved his entire people by talking to one of the creatures. Their
are several stories as to the content of this conversation, but the
apparent result was some form of treaty between the two races, demanding
the Dergrad stay away from the Nebula. They call the Dwellers "Hec'wa"
or "Fearsome Warriors", the name is considered an honour.
The Vurtedions have only had a few encounters with the Nebula
Dwellers, each either resulting in the destruction/loss of Vurtedion
research vessels or complete memory loss of entire encounter, including
erasure of ships logs and records. These encounters have only occured
within the past 10 years when the Dergrad and Vurtedions have shared
brief Treaty's and the Vurtedions have been allowed to explore the Nebula.
(Although the Dergrad know the nature of the Dwellers they are quite happy
to let their enemy be destroyed by them).
3 The Station and it's History:
The station is very old and was deserted many years ago by an
unknown race(to the Federation). It is poorly armed and run down.
3.1 Support:
With such a poorly armed station it would be a good idea
to provide the station with a support Starship, capable of defense
and local patrol. Limited scientific functions would be a bonus too.
Perhaps the USS ARDENT could be repaired and remain with the station.
As well as the support Starship a load of 4 Runabouts and assorted
shuttles would be useful for away from base missions and transport
of personel.
3.2 Station History:
Information gathered by Commaner Dala Terlarn from the station's
barely opperable computer core and from the race that attacked his ship
is detailed below.
The station was commisioned 100 years ago and built between the
Dergrad and Vurtedion. It's purpose was to act as a base for exploration
of the nearby Nebula aswell as a stop off point for ships wishing to trade
in the deeper regions of the Cocoon. It was considered an unimportant
location until rumours surfaced that a powerful race resided within the
Nebula 50 years ago. Most of the rumours were apparently based on stories
of the Dergrad 'Myths'. Warnings from the Dergrad went unheaded.
Research vessels all searching for this strange race soon flocked to
the station. Enhancements were made, including the introduction of
Phaser technology to combat the rising trouble surrounding the station
as ships fought for the glory of finding the new race.
45 years ago contact was made by one of the races science vessels. It
was destroyed, as were the other vessels still searching for the Nebula
Dwellers. Eventually all the vessels that used to explore the Nebula
were either destroyed or their crews were too scared to go in to the
Nebula or even come near the station.
46 years ago the station's former occupants decided that to remain
would be commercially un-sound and abandoned the station and most of
their equipment. Their location now is unknown.
3.3 Mission Statement:
The Federation has been asked by both the Dergrad and the
Vurtedions to help establish and maintain treaties between the two
races. The following are the Stations and it's crews main mission
outlines.
3.3.1 Peace Keeping:
The DS Station and it's crew primary mission is to help
maintain peace between the Dergrad and the Vurtedions. Their must be
no interference in the peoples internal affairs. An Ambassador will be
stationed permanantly on the station.
3.3.1 Exploration:
The DS Station's secondary mission is to act as a base for
exploration into the Nebula and the surrounding areas by both it's
support craft and individual starships.
3.3.3 Base and Shoreleave:
The DS Station will act as a base for Starship missions deeper
into the Cocoon than ships starting at SB Omega can get without months
of travel without shoreleave. Recreational facilities will be installed
onboard in addition to those already present.
3.3.4 Interaction With Other Races:
The DS Station will act as a meeting place for not only the
Dergrad and the Vurtedions but for the other many races in the area.
It will have to deal with passing trade, disagreements between the
races in the area and possible hostilities towards Federation members.
As new races are discovered deep within the Cocoon the DS Stations crew
must be prepared to act as their only link with the Federation within
their reach and must set a good example, staying true to what the
Federation represents and believes.
3.4 Station Design:
The only known specifications of the station so far are:
The station has 8 docking ports, including two pylons.
The station has 4 large shuttle bays.
The station posesses basic science functions.
A few small phaser arrays are present and one torpedo
launcher. Four probe launchers are also present.
The station is powered by a large fusion reactor.
4 Additional Notes:
4.1 Meeting the Dergrad and Vurtedions:
The Dergrad and Vurtedion races will appear first when the crew
of the investigating starship are searching for survivors from the damaged
USS ARDENT.
First contact will be made by the Dergrad attempting to make friends
with who they see as a mighty race. They will provide information on
the Vurtedion people trying to make us believe they are a weak race
who do not deserve to know us.
First contact will be made with the Vurtedion when they arrive shortly
after the Dergrad. Upon seeing what the Dergrad are trying to do they
will transmit data files on both themselves and the Dergrad. The
information will seem to match what the Dergrad have told the crew of the
investigating ship, perhaps with differences on persective though.
(i.e. the Dergrads would be trying to show how mighty their methods were
whilst putting down the Peace-loving Vurtedions. The Vurtedions will
just be stating established facts. But basically the info will be the
same).
This will solve the problem of how each race is discovered and
information gathered, thus saving having to start two missions to
find this out.
4.2 Support Ship:
Both the Dergrad and the Vurtedions will have no objections to
the USS ARDENT being assigned as a support ship. They will probably
assume it to be standard SF procedure. (Also the Dergrad have already
proved their superiority over it).
4.3 Anyothers:
Not that I know of(as yet).
(
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