After talking about three-stage prep before, I thought I’d better give you the finished example. This one-shot for Star Trek Adventures (2nd Edition) is soon to be released on Unconventional GMs, and I rattled it off as a one-shot ready to run. 

UPDATE! The Dilithium Dilemma is now out on Unconventional GMs – here to watch in a tight 1hr 40min actual play!

It’s set in the Original Series era, as that’s where my co-host’s tastes lie (and, to be honest – it gives a bit more pulpy action than any of the other eras), and it played through in about an hour and a quarter. Scheduling meant we only had two players, though – a normal group and  normal pacing means this should run in a normal 3-4 hour slot no problem.

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As always, if you manage to use this in a game, let me know about it! And this actually had a pre-stage one; I randomly rolled a mission using the solo Star Trek rules in Captain’s Log – so I’ll post more about that soon! Structurally, you’ll notice a wide open ending for it – borrowing a technique from (originally I think) Tales from the Loop, the multi-stage solution is left for the players to devise, and modelled as a big Extended Task!

The Dilithium Dilemma

A Star Trek Adventures 2E one-shot

Setting – the original series era, the Constitution-class exploration vessel USS Convention has been called to assist the Federation colony on Andax IV, s mist-covered jungle planet that contains sources of a rare dilithium ore. The science colony is researching and cataloging the ore for future use, all the while mindful of the native species, who exist at a relatively primitive level of technology. Recently the ore has become unstable, and concerns are it may endanger the colony – and the Andaxians.

Scene One – Orbit of Andax IV

• Mist-shrouded jungle planet, occasional storms visible from orbit
• Instruments crackle at the tectonic stresses that ripple beneath the crust
• High, though not dangerous, variable background radiation
  • At the edge – though not within – the Romulan Neutral Zone
  • Panels show the occasional fritz from the background radiation

Scan the Planet – D1 Insight+Conn/Science – reveals that the radiation readings do indeed indicate an urgent situation, and the colony is located nearby to the biggest unstable isotopes. The radiation will make transporter travel – and communicating – challenging, although there is a window now

Obtain Info – there are around thousands of Andaxians on the planet, and they appear to have moved away from the most unstable clusters of dilithium

Obtain Info – there are readings inconsistent with the Andaxian’s levels of technology in a few of their settlements near the science colony – maybe they have acquired Federation technology?

Research – D1 Reason+Science – the planet has been both inside and outside the Romulan Neutral Zone in its history. The Andaxians are a partially amphibious species of humanoids, who are known to be peaceful and at a level of technology roughly equivalent to 1950s earth

Obtain Info – their technology level has remained stable for years – the working theory is that they are a deeply spiritual peopl with a connection to their planet

Obtain Info – they have previously been contacted by Orions – the Federation intervened and resolved the issue, retaining the Prime Directive

Scene Two – Journey to Planet

• Damp, thick jungle – with a few tracks within it; navigation is difficult
• A thick, mossy, organic smell fills the air
• Your skin occasionally crackles with static electricity
  • Tricorders beep and fizz every so often at the background radiation
  • It is dusk – but a low blue glow illuminates the area

Beam Down – this requires a D2 Control+Engineering test, assisted by the ship, or they will take 2 Stress each on a rough transport. They’ll also arrive off-target, in a deep swamp suffused with a blue glow. Strange humans in wetsuits stalk them and run off – they must succeed on a Fitness+Security D1 to escape the pit, and a Reason+Science D2 to navigate to the colony through the thick blue mists

Shuttle – this is hardly easier, requiring D2 Daring+Conn to pilot – failure results in a crash-landing in the swamp above, and a similar challenge

Scene Three- The Colony

• Reinforced airlocks through heavy plastic shielding to dampen the background radiation
• Bulbous, functional arrangement – spherical or ovoid tables and stools
• Sterile and with the hum of constant air filtration
  • Entirely dust-free; the stools and tables shine
  • The actual instrument panels, while stylish, are a little outdated – these are ill-equipped for a cutting-edge science station

They meet Dr Daros Landsine, the colony leader – he explains the Andaxians are primitives who only get in the way, and is clearly impatient that the dilithium isn’t being harvested. It only remains stable for so long – the readings we’re seeing are not unexpected!

They also meet Professor Andal, a Vulcan scientist who calls them aside and explains his theory about the Andaxians – that they have some sort of religious relationship to the crystals. He entreats them to break the prime directive to stabilize it – it’s a material asset, but it could make the whole planet – and an entire pre-warp species – explode!

Just as they are debating what to do, an explosion rocks the colony – a colony of crystals they have harvested has exploded. Tremors shake the colony

Stabilize the crystals – Extended Task – 8 square progress track

Difficulty 1: Resistance 0 – probably Reason/Control+Science

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

BT1 – the dilithium begins to tremble as the piezoelectric force resonates – now D2 R1

BT2 – the resonance calms, but tremors remain – D2 R0. Discover the accelerant on the crystals

OR

Evacuate the Colony – 8 square progress track

Difficulty 2: Resistance 0 – probably Presence+Command

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

BT1 – the colony begins to collapse in on itself – next roll is Fitness+Security

BT2 – the swamp floods in – now D2 R2. Discover the a scrap of material torn on the escape hatches – that of a Romulan centurion

Once this is resolved, readings can be found showing that all the crystal samples are still unstable – they need to be stabilized to work out what the cause

Investigate unstable sample – D2 Insight+Science – the crystals show sign of an accelerant being added to them

Obtain Information – this is native to some Romulan client states

Either way, it is suggested – and Andal will be keen to travel with them – that they visit the nearby crystal outcroppings to determine if they are unstable as well, as the mists have blocked sensor viewings

Scene Four – Into the Jungle

• Now deeper in water, often knee-deep in environment suits
• Constant buzzing of insects and/or resonant crystals
• Disturbing feeling of being watched
  • The criss-cross paths often intersect and double back, although some head into pools
  • Occasional tentacles or vines move across the pools – shadows in the water

Guided only by Tricorder, you venture into the jungle to the source of the nearest crystal outcroppings – and into a Romulan ambush!

This is a combat encounter as you find the Andaxians worshipping and as you observe, see the Romulans dressed in the same green robes as them. Edrik Varr is the squadron leader – there are the same number of them as PCs, and they have the Romulan Uhlan stats from the core book.

After the ambush, they can question Vash’lar of the Andaxians – he asks them to leave. He tells them that the other nation have already explained that the crystals are unstable, and offered them a safe route off planet – why wouldn’t Andal and his friends help them, if they knew it was so dangerous?

At this point, a garbled communication comes through from the Captain – a bird of prey has decloaked around Andax IV and is demanding they leave as they are in violation of the prime directive!

Scene Five – Resolution

The PCs need to warn off the Romulans, secure the dilithium, and/or appease the Andaxians, without breaking the prime directive.

However they roll it up, this’ll be a 12-track extended task. Choose the type of roll based on how they approach it!

Begins at D1 R1, but at each BT goes up to D1 R2 and then D2 R2

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

You’ll have to improvise the breakthroughs depending on the approach, but each will make the task harder as above.