RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 9

Day 9-Who's in charge here?

"The United Federation of Planets is located Spinward and Rimward of the region of space the USS Prosperity is currently exploring and patrolling. The Romulan Star Empire lies directly Rimward of these sectors. In between these two peoples is a wide expanse of stars and planets, nebulas and spatial phenomena.

For our purposes, here are the people whose decisions influence the overall status of this frontier. In truth, if I may be so bold, it is the sharp minds, brave hearts, and steely determination of individuals that make the biggest impacts on the lives of those who dwell where no one interstellar power truly holds sway."

Admiral George Bankroft

A decorated Starfleet Officer who previous to his appointment to the Admiralty commanded the USS Colin Powell, a Hermes Class Scout/Destroyer. Presently he is the commanding officer of Deep Space 5. 

Bankroft met Capt. Anne Fletcher when she was still a young lieutenant and was very impressed with her ability and attitude. Believing she was destined for a meaningful career in Starfleet, the Admirl periodically checked in on how she was doing. When Bankroft learned of the impending deployment of DS5, he placed himself on the top of the list of possible C.O.s, knowing that the USS Prosperity, Anne Fletcher's vessel, was intended to be assigned to DS5 as its homebase. 

Now I know what you're thinking and you aren't completely wrong; off the record, George Bankroft is a man who sometimes bends the rules to get what he wants. The thing is, it's hard to argue with his results. He can be pushy, even manipulative, but he gets things done and has a remarkably good eye for finding the right people and putting in the right places. 

He can be tough when necessary but is generally a very likeable man; he's the 'cool uncle' who strongly believe in the spirit of Starfleet and the UFP, if not the rules of them.

Commodore Alastair Strickland

If Bankroft is the 'cool uncle', Strickland is the annoying neighbor who will not hesitate to remind you that your hedges have grown over his property line by exactly seven centimeters and he insists you take care of it before he's forced to inform the neighborhood association. 

A career 'desk jockey', Alastair Strickland is nonetheless very good at his job. He's developed the skills of an extremely effective administrator over the course of his long career. Strickland follows the letter of the law and he isn't just by-the-book, he's memorized the book and probably submitted many of the regulations inside it.

Strickland and Bankroft have a friendly rivalry that dates back to their Academy days apparently. Their careers took two very different paths but they are still competeing to this day. At first, Strickland was skeptical of Captain Fletcher and her crew but was eager to see what they were capable of and why Bankroft spoke so highly of them.

Impressed by their successful outing on an assignment he gave them, Strickland sought to negotiate with Bankroft to have them do a few more missions. Instead, Bankroft recommended to Starfleet Command that they should temporarily transfer the Prosperity to Deep Space 4 as the Romulans had become more active of late and that fell more closely under Strickland's jurisdiction. Starfleet Command agreed. 

Strickland is no fool. He knows Bankroft did him a favor but he isn't sure why. Still, he would be a idiot to look a gift horse in the mouth. It should be noted that though he is a strict and unwavering fellow in general, Strickland is not completely inflexible. Give him a good enough argument supported by sufficient evidence and he will consider changing his mind. He can adapt, he just prefers not to. He would much rather others adapt to him. 

Romulan Commander Enria

Formerly the commanding officer of the Romulan U-8 Albatross Class Scout vessel, 'Keen Vision'. Enria impressed her superiors when, even though she failed to retrieve or destroy the prototype VX-012 Venator Cruiser, she did obtain enough hard data on the ship and its experimental weapon system, a Rapid Fire Plasma Torpedo Launcher, to allow for further development of project. Additionally, she was able to obtain quite a bit of intel on the Ventura Class Mark III and the Prosperity in particular, a ship that has been a thorn in the Star Empire's side for some years now. 

Still, it is surprising that she didn't face punishment for her failures, which by all accounts are quite significant. Starfleet Intelligence believes Enria might be connected to an influential noble family and/or that she may have caught the eye of one of the Emperor's sons. 

Either way, Enria was made a Commander and became involved in several important missions for the Romulans, including retrieval of the Beacon of K'atraha, a holy relic according to the Mazzulan people and a potential weapon in the eyes of the Romulans. While she once against failed to obtain her target, she deemed it an unworthy effort and a waste of the Empire's resources to pursue. 

Commander Enria remains an active, ambitious member of the Romulan Star Empire's Navy and one with a personal grudge against Captain Fletcher and the Prosperity. They seem to keep thwarting her endevours. Enria is not 'in charge' per se but she is definitely an influential individual and someone to keep an eye on.

"Aside from these key figures, there are probably more persons of note that we are not yet aware of. As has been stated already, we are on the frontier of space; while some of this region is well established, many parts have not been explored by Starfleet at all. We are still learning the 'lay of the land' as Humans say. 

Who knows what personas may dwell in the vast darkness that have yet to reveal themselves?" 

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Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 8

Day 8-Tell us about the local peoples and their cultures.

"One of the reasons I decided to join Starfleet and defect to the United Federation of Planets is that my people's long history of prejudice and speciesist superiority runs absolutely counter to my own nature. I am completely fascinated by all the varied intelligent lifeforms that exist in our galaxy! I truly take to heart the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

Just imagine being raised on a world of Black and White versus White and Black only to discover that in the vastness of the universe most other beings are a single hue or more accurately one hue per individual. I was the oddity. My supposedly superior species were the strange ones. My mind was blasted! Wait...blown. My mind was blown.

Sorry, its a Human colloquialism and I haven't mastered them all yet. 

In my time serving with the USS Prosperity I've met so many species and formed close relationships with Andorians, Humans, Vulcans, Tellarites, and I could go on and on. I've also met or at least seen some that are fascinating and unusual even by UFP standards. Let me tell you about a few..."

Khelayans

(Khelaya, Rura Khel IV, Rura Khel System)

A former subject species of the Klingon Empire, the Khelayans had eventually had enough of Klingon rule and when their conquerors diverted forces to deal with other matters, the Khelayan people rose up, having obtained weapons in secret from Orion traders.

Not long after their uprising, those dwelling on their homeworld's most populated continent, and the site of many Klingon mining operations, discovered a Janissary outpost and massive armory they dubbed 'The Vault'. Not content with just being free from tyranny, a decision was made by the Khelayan Council of Elders to go on the offensive and switch from being prey to being predators themselves.

The Janissaries were a militant offshoot of the ancient, mysterious species known as the Precursors, who technology and science were far beyond what we can comprehend today, except in the barest of terms. 

The Khelayan took damaged ships left behind by the Klingons, reverse engineered the simpliest of the Janissary tech (most of it being a millennia ahead of the Federation and Klingon Empire) and started acting as pirates. Mostly they attacked Orion and Klingon civilian and commercial transports but eventually they became bold and struck Federation and Starfleet targets. 

In the end this lead to war with the UFP, which required Captain Anne Fletcher - temporarily promoted to Fleet Captain - to bring an assembled fleet of ships to Khelaya. A short but bitter battle was engaged while a small team went to the surface to disable and eventually eliminate the Vault and all Janissary technology. The Khelayans reluctantly surrendered.

During these events, the Prosperity crew learned that not all Khelayans had agreed with their ruling council's decision to go this route and with the remaining Elders of the council deposed and arrested, Khelaya's new leadership hopes to redeem their people in the eyes of the rest of the galaxy. Sadly, that doesn't seem likely anytime soon. 

Khelayans are yellow-green to green-gray humanoids with vaguely reptilian appearances, bat-like ears, and rounded peak shaped skulls. The stand 2 meters tall on average with females being generally the same height as males. Female Khelayans are often brighter or paler in color and markings on their skin are more obvious. 

Although they do share some reptilian biological attributes, they are warm-blooded and generally dwell in their cold planet's mildest environments when possible.They dislike extreme heat or extreme cold but will endure it if need be. They lays eggs but nurse the hatched young as would mammals. Their eyes are well adapted to dim light and their ears are quite sensitive.

Kyodanians

(Planet of Origin Unknown - Believed to be in the Trailing Section of the Beta Quadrant) 

Only just recently encountered by Starfleet, specifically by Lt. Commander Rhys Carr when he met one on Deep Space Station K-12, the Kyodanians are a starfaring species from the far end of the Tango Super Sector.

The individual Kyodanian, who called himself Goruhk, was friendly and menacing at the same time. Introducing himself as an explorer who trades information for goods, supplies, and other information, the most peculiar aspect of Goruhk, and the Kyodanian people presumably, appears to be their language. 

Modern Universal Translators are able to not only translate a multitude of languages but determine context, innuendo, and emphasis by relating the words they receive to other words, both in the present conversation and in the devices memory circuits. This proved to not be the case with Goruhk, as it seems his language lacks any sort of subtly or indirect meaning. It is simple and almost brutually honest. Thank goodness Mr. Carr, a linguistics specialist, was able to adjust his communication gear and its algorithim so as to be able to converse with the Kyodanian. 

Their first conversation went like this:

Cmdr Carr: "I am Commander Carr of the Starfleet vessel USS Prosperity."

Goruhk: "Hello Commander Carr of the Prosperity! I am Goruhk. I am an explorer. I like spicy foods. Now, you tell me something about yourself."

Cmdr Carr: "I am a Science Officer and an explorer as well. I like to play an Earth sport called Baseball."

Goruhk: "EXCELLENT! I have told you something about me, you have told me something about you and now, we are friends!"

Goruhk meant it. He was happy to tell Mr. Carr whatever he wanted to know about pretty much anything of a friendly nature as they were indeed, just like he said, friends now. 

Kyodanians are massive, standing 2.3 meters tall and weighing 200 kgs. Their skin is similar to that of a Megarite and other cetacean-like lifeforms but is denser and tougher. The horn-like protrusions on their head and spines are their backs seem to aid them in balance like the inner ear of many Humanoid species. Kyodanian are large and heavy but surprisingly agile. They are, as one might imagine, incredibly physically strong and are excellent swimmers (their fingers and toes are webbed). 

Little else is known about the Kyodanians at this time but we look forward to learning more.

Mazzulans

(Mazzula, Meridiana, Alpha Coronae Australis II, Alpha Coronae Australis System)

Following the Earth-Romulan War, a sect of Romulan Spiritualists departed Romulus on an exodus not unlike the Romulans departure from Vulcan. They left in three colonization vessels, one of which disappeared following a massive ion storm and meteor shower. For decades the fate of that vessel was unknown until only recently. The other two ships made it to Alpha Coronae Australis II, known as Meridiana by the Federation. They dubbed the planet Mazzula after an ancient Vulcan God of Hope and Determination. 

To their surprise, the planet was not unihabited. An Orion starship had crash landed there a decade earlier due nearly identical hazard conditions to those that destroyed the Mazzulans third colony ship. Over the next few 40 years or so the surviving Orions and Romulan pilgrims interbred, resulting in the present day Mazzulans. 

Culturally the Mazzulans are a throwback and a hybrid of pre- and post-exodus Romulans and therefore somewhat more Vulcan. They are emotional but highly spiritual, with numerous supernatural beliefs. They retain a small degree of latent Psychic ability, with fewer individuals exhibiting any notable talent compared to say, the Vulcans. At the same time, rare individuals can be quite powerful, with extrasensory perception, empathic ability, and precognitive abilities being the most common manifestations. 

Curiously, these abilities appear more often in females, resulting in a respected priestesshood. 

Relations with the Romulans are strained at the best of times. They have yet to make or receive formal contact with the Vulcans. They view the Federation and Starfleet as a whole as honorable and have been willing to open diplomatic talks and culture exchange as long as their religious and spiritual beliefs are acknowledged and tolerated which they have been. Things at present are promising.

Biologically, Mazzulans are Vulcanoids with a strong similarity to their roots as Romulans crossed with Orions. The most notable distinction is that the pigmentation seems to be closer to Green Orions, though as a mutation or adaption to their hotter blue giant star, some individuals appear very dark olive in complexion. There may be other reasons for this related to diet for example. 

Uthaden

(Utha, Beta3 Tucanae V, Beta3 Tucanae System)

Visual Design and Image by Chris Reyes

A sentient species of Mammalian Arachnoids, the Uthaden (plural and singular are the same) hold dominion over their homeworld and a few colonies in their own star system. In addition, they have a mining operation on the fourth planet in the Alturas system, which is where the USS Prosperity made first contact with them. 

Initially unsure of the Starfleet personnel, Captain Fletcher and Lt. Commander Carr managed to convince them that the explosion they had just seen and were heading to investigate was likely the result of Romulan activity. Although the Uthaden were unfamiliar with the Romulans, they had no problem with Starfleet dealing with the situation as long as it didn't impede the mining process. Capt. Fletcher assured the Uthaden she'd do everything she could to leave them out of it and that was good enough for the Uthaden. 

Later, when Prosperity's Landing Party came under fire from the Romulans and their prototype cruiser, the VX-012 Venator, the Uthaden showed up in heavy truck-like vehicles and fired warning shots at the Romulans. They made it clear it was best the Romulans 'get off their land'.

After the Landing Party was beamed back up to the Prosperity, Captain Fletcher and her crew engaged the Venator and revealed a cloaked U-8 Albatross Class scout vessel. The Venator was badly damaged by the Prosperity and when back-up arrived, the USS Agni, the Albatross tried to negotiate. In the end, the Albatross and her Captain departed, as the Venator attempted to self-destruct. This was prevented by the Prosperity's crew who captured the prototype vessel. 

Romulan and Uthaden Vessels by Chris Reyes

Sometime afterwards, an Uthaden vessel arrived and after some discussion between the ship's commanding officer and Capt. Fletcher, the Uthaden shared some sensor data they had accidentally obtained on the prototype ship. It seems one of their satellites searching for mineral deposits picked up data on the Venator. 

Since then, more formal diplomatic overtures have been made between the Federation and the Uthaden Alliance, with a promising future of cooperation between both parties and perhaps membership for Utha before long. 

Uthaden technology is about 50-75 years behind that of the UFP but because of their construction materials and techniques, their vessels, vehicles, and gear are remarkably sturdy. Their weapons rely on concussive force and they use specialized plating on their ships instead of traditional deflector shields. 

The Uthaden themselves are, as noted, a multi-limbed mammalian species with numerous similarities to arachnids. They are large, about 2 meters in length and standing about a meter and a half in height from a flat surface to the top of their wide head. They move extremely fast on their eight legs, each of which ends in a paw-like clawed foot. The two arms are capable of considerable flexibility but they can not reach over their heads and have a great deal of difficulty swimming. As you can probably guess, they are master climbers. Their eating habits, well, they require a large number of calories per day, are mostly carnivorous, and inject their food with an enzyme their softens it, making it easier to tear and chew. This enzyme is delivered with a hardened, piercing tongue. 

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Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 7

Day 7-What's the weather like today?

"A fellow officer in the Sciences Department specializing in Meterology, Ensign Dalton, once told me, "If I had to report on the weather aboard Prosperity, I think my job would be pretty dull indeed." 

As someone who once skipped around from planet to planet, never quite sure what I would need to survive a world's climate, I very much appreciate the relative dullness of the conditions of shipboard life. At the same time, braving the elements is a big part of Landing Party missions and we've encountered some seriously intense environments over the years. Trust me when I say that Ensign Dalton's job is anything but dull.

A few standouts from missions over the last few years include..."

Dinom II (Dinom)

The weather on Dinom II is hot. Very, very hot.

A brutally hot and barren desert world with five small seas, slightly heavy gravity, and an atmosphere that is simultaneously thick and yet has low than standard oxygen content. It is a bit higher in nitrogen. The PH balance and alkaline levels are strangely less than normal for Class M worlds, causing generally lower acidity. This is due to a type of moss-like plant that naturally absorbs and filters the water in many regions of the planet. 

Perhaps the worst part of being on Dinom II is the fact that the planet is tidally locked, the 'Bright Face' of the world is perpetually being bombarded by the light of its giant, blue-white Sun. It is always just past noon on Dinom II's solar facing side. 

Dinom II Surface Map - Crash Site (West Side) to Federation Communication Relay (East Side)

Scanned points of interest included.

Sensor Scan Map Iconography

Not long ago the Captain, Commander Bhoth, Commander Carr, Lt. Wilder, the Arcturian Ambassader and his aide, and a small crew of Starfleet Officers crash landed on the planet due to sabotage of their transport's power grid. The planet's conditions were extremely hard on the group but most especially for the Ambassador who is enter old age for his species and Commander Bhoth, as Andorians are better adapted for extremely cold climates. 

Leucothea (GSC 321-Gamma) 

It will be raining on Leucothea, followed by a period of heavy drizzle, leading to hurricane conditions by the evening.

Leucothea, the second planet in star system GSC 321-Gamma, is an ocean world wracked by nearly constant rain, wind, and lightning. Micro-fine metallic particles in the planet's atmosphere are easily ionized and sub-surface thermal vents warm the otherwise chilling oceans to create 'perfect storms' on the regular. 

Interestingly, this seemingly erratic weather does form patterns that are easily comprehended by the non-sentient sea life of the planet. Everything from the rainfall to temperature changes to electrical discharges into the water are part of the complex ecosystem of Leucothea's oceans. 

Research Station Gamma-13

The planet hosts a Federation Oceanic Research Outpost, once governed by an Artifical Intelligence invented by Dr. Paul Briggs, a leading mind in the field of Unmanned Exploration and Robotics. Unfortunately, the AI went rogue, doing everything it could to protect Briggs but driving out any other sentient being. Luckily, Captain Fletcher and the Prosperity were able to save Briggs from his own creation. With the help of Starfleet's Corps of Engineers and scientists from the newly formed Daystrom Institute, the outpost is ongoing a complete refit and should be able to function as intended once again very soon. 

Rho Gruis III (Rho Gruis)

Bundle up Landing Party, it's going to be especially cold on Rho Gruis III. Not colder than usual, just very cold. It's always pretty much freezing on this planet.

The ice and snow covered world of Rho Gruis III is located in an orbit of about 91.5 million miles from its large but dimming Red-Orange star. With no moon and no other planets all that close to it, the air is very still and high winds are quite rare. Only seasonal positioning between the world and its sun create such situations by generating pockets of warmer and cooler air in the planets M Class atmosphere. 

Falling snow is not the only hazard from above one must watch out for on Rho Gruis III. The planet is often assaulted by meteor showers, on a mostly predictable basis. These meteor strikes occur because the wide, eliptical orbit of the planet passes very close to a ring of asteriods in the system with a similarly odd orbit. The strong gravitational pull of the smallish world of Rho Gruis III yanks these rocks away from their ring and towards itself. 

Those participating in Landing Parties to this planet had best stay in regular contact with the orbiting science station Tiresias-1, which not only studies the ruins but also the regularly occurring meteor showers. Tiresias-1 is equipped with specialized Shield Emitters based on the Navigational Deflectors used on Starfleet vessels in order to protect itself and its research teams on the planet from errant space debris.  

Tiresias-1, Scientific Observatory and Research Station

Rho Gruis III is the site of the ruins of an unknown, ancient civilization that Starfleet has been studying for years. As it turns out, it is also the location of a crashed colony vessel launched from Romulus just after the Earth-Romulan War. Two other ships from that same exodus landed safely on Meridiana in the Alpha Coronae Australis system. The colonists are now known as the Mazzulans. Recently the Mazzulans and Romulans were at odds over the wreckage, claiming it contained a holy relic of great spiritual significane. The Romulans were lying about their motives however, going after the long lost artifact because that believed it to be Psionic weapon not unlike the Vulcan Stone of Gol.

"Very hot, very wet, or very cold? What's your preference? Just of few of the extreme ecosystems and climates of the worlds in the Sierra and Tango Super Sectors."

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Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 6

oDay 6-Where shall we start? 

"As a Starfleet Officer, I 'start' wherever I am assigned but before a major mission that is usually a Starbase or other Starfleet/UFP outpost. For our previous 5-Year Mission, the Prosperity operated out of Deep Space 5. Our most recent tour started out from Deep Space 4."

Deep Space 5

Commanded by Admiral George Bankroft, decorated former captain of the USS Colin Powell, Deep Space 5 is an R-1 Type Space Station placed in a strategic position that lies just off the Delta-Therbia-Aamazzara Trade Route. 

Small and lean with very few non-essential facilities or amenities, DS5 nonetheless hosts decently sized rooms for diplomatic events and guests. It is a newer design, quite advanced, and can handle major starship repairs short of having to completely replace parts or sections like an entire nacelle or a whole deflector array. . 

The Admiral is a skilled and experienced officer with an excellent staff. He is warm and generally quite charming, preferring a personal approach to administration. He likes to meet with the command staff of any and all starships that visit the station. This approach has rubbed off on his crew and creates a 'cozy' atmosphere to the base.

Starfleet Officers genuinely like stopping at DS5, even if its a little 'barebones'.

More about Admiral Bankroft later in the Challenge. 

Deep Space 4

This H Type Space Station is under the command of Commodore Alastair Strickland, a very serious man with a no-nonsense attitude. Strickland runs a tight station and is not known to stop by to say hello to every tramp frieghter captain who passes through his base. If he thinks you're worth talking to, he'll summon you to his office. Be on time.

Larger but older in design than Deep Space 5, DS4 has a few more 'creature comfort' features. The station has a bigger and better equipped gym than DS5, as well as an Officer's Lounge in addition to its Mess Hall. Commodore Strickland often dines in his own private 'Captain's Mess'. DS4 can handle major starship repairs but because of its great distance from the Federation Core worlds and major trade routes, they have to wait a long time to get highly specific or uncommon parts.

Deep Space 4 is all business. It is where Starfleet Officers go to get things done, even if that 'thing' is to relax. Don't get too comfortable though, as Strickland needs you back out there asap!

If you are a civilian visitor to the region I highly recommend beginning your journey at Rhaandar or Deep Space Station K-12. 

Rhaandar

Rhaandar is the fourth planet in the Rhaandaran System, also known as the Rhaandar System or Alpha Indii. It is the homeworld of the Rhaandarites, a long standing member species of the United Federation of Planets. 

Located in Sector Sierra-10, Rhaandar has the distinction of being one of the UFP member worlds furthest from Earth and therefore the center of the Federation. A lovely destination all its own, it is a quiet, largely pastoral world belonging to a gregarious people. However, it is also one the best places to start a journey into the frontier as the Rhaandarites are excellent pilots and navigators, which a sense of spatial awareness that appears preternatural.

Deep Space Station K-12

Orbiting the second planet in star system HD 132648, Deep Space Station K-12 is a Federation civilian outpost with a strong Starfleet presence. It's overall design is typical of K Type stations but it's interior definitely shows evidence of being customized to accommodate sector locals and Starfleet personnel. 

The station hosts more art and cultural locations and activities than is typical for an outpost this size, especially one located this far into frontier space. It has an Art Gallery with rotating exhibitions that offers art classes and workshops. There is a small but well done Earth-Romulan War Museum, along with a Memorial Sculpture and Plaque.

Most of the restaurants and lounges broadcast local music and sporting events on multiple screens. Of particular note is a 'Family Style' restaurant that serves food from across the Federation, with a heavy emphasis on Earth cuisine. Another very poplular and well regarded restaurant is 'Sha'Shee Pree Hom' or 'Where We Eat', an Andorian establishment that is considered a bit more 'upscale'. According to an acquaintence of Commander Bhoth, the independent Andorian Merchant Shelev, the Thuush is especially good, tasting very much homemade and not in the style of Lor'Tan or other major cosmopolitan areas but more like that found in rural countryside regions. 

The station is located above an M-Class planet simply known as HD 132648-II, where an annual 'Hopper Race' is held and open to both civilians and off-duty Starfleet Officers. Participants must assemble their own Hopper Craft from the spare parts of shuttlecraft and other small ship found strewn across the hills of the Northwestern Hemisphere. Originally most of the parts were wreckage from the Earth-Romulan War but later various powers and individuals dumped such discarded components there before the UFP took it over. Once assembled, the Hopper crews try to complete an obstacle course before their competitors can.

"This year I was pleased to be asked by Lt. Charlie Wilder to serve as his Co-Pilot and Navigator when he entered the competition. Along with Ensign Mayfield and Ensign Megop from Engineering, we packed into an old Starfleet Orbital Transfer Shuttle with replacement engines and won! It was so much fun! If you are a talented pilot and know some good engineers I highly recommend giving it a try. 

See you out there!"

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Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 5

Day 5-Can you tell us about the campaign's history?

The campaign began as a one-shot of The Star Trek Roleplaying Game by Last Unicorn Games I ran at a New York CIty gaming convention called RECESS back in 2014. You can see more about that here. My players and I consider this the first 'Pilot Episode' (it's not counted as being among the 9 seasons of the series).

This was followed by a host of one-shots with the same 'core cast' and a rotating series of supporting players. Eventually, after a bit of reworking and a conversion from LUG's Star Trek RPG to Modiphius' Star Trek Adventures, we firmly established Star Trek: Prosperity as an ongoing bi-weekly campaign that is still active [as of this entry].

"Computer, access Memory Alpha Historical Archive Records on USS Prosperity, NCC-1587. Display Historical Synopsis with Highlights."

"...WORKING..."

The Ventura Class Light Cruiser first entered Starfleet service in 2228, roughly 12-15 years prior to the launch of the Constitution Class. When launched, it was touted as one of the most advanced, dependable, and durable designs of its day. 

The USS Prosperity itself was launched in 2230. Prior to Captain Anne Fletcher taking command in 2266, the vessel had an   if unremarkable run.

A year and a half into Anne Fletcher's captaincy, Starfleet decided to use the vessel to test out a Rear-Facing Photon Torpedo. The ship was overhauled and fit with the device which turned out to be very effective in battle but not without its drawbacks. 

This is where our ongoing campaign [truly] begins.

Season 1

How it started.

Captain Anne Fletcher is the Commanding Officer. Commander Solok is First Officer and Chief Science Officer. Lt. Commander Tha'ar Bhoth is Chief of Security. Lt. Commander Rhys (pronounced Reese) Carr is Chief of Communications.

Other PCs include Ross as Chief Medical Officer, Lt. Commander,  Dr. Jemm Paker and Saul as Chief Helmsman, Lt. Stephen LeBrock. 

Many of the major Command Crew NPCs are established as regular supporting characters, such as Asst. Chief Engineer Lt. Gravph (a Male Tellarite), Asst. Chief Science Officer Lt. T'Sora (a Female Vulcan), and Asst. Chief of Communications Lt. JG Hitomi Kikaeda (Female Human).

Most missions are following up on prior endeavors of Constituition Class starships and Starfleet Scout vessels. This leads to a series of adventures that all deal with Precursor Artifacts, including the Light Dams of Hesparagorta and a Doomsday Machine. The PCs unravel the mysterious connection between all these objects and gain knowledge about the Precursors, their language, and their iconographic writing.

Conflict occurs with Romulans when they team up with Prosperity to stop the Doomsday Machine but double cross them to take advantage of the situation. The Romulan Sub-Commander forcefully relieved her superior of Command when his actions endangered their ship. Going forward, this Sub-Commander would be a re-occurring Romulan character the PCs could actually reason with.

Season 2

Bhoth switches to Chief Engineer.

Melissa joins as Lt. Anara Datiri, a Female Deltan Helmsman. Lt. LeBrock is gone. Ross departs but Dr. Paker is now an NPC.  

Additional Prosperity personnel are fleshed out, particularly a good number of those serving in Engineering. An NPC member of Dr. Paker staff is Lt. Hanover. Her role, doctor or nurse, isn't clear.

Captain Fletcher develops a friendly rivalry with Captain T'Sada of the Science Ship USS Algol. Fletcher is able to obtain a Sensor Suite Upgrade originally intended for the Algol. The Algol went back on the waiting list and does eventually get her upgrade. 

There is an encounter with a massive, spaceborne organism or 'cosmozoan' at Ludugia (Rho Coronae Borealis). The situation was epic and the entity of the Cosmic Horror sort. The adventure features the first named character death in the game, Warp Drive Specialist Calvin Bishop.

It is revealed that firing the Rear Photo Torpedo shakes the starboard Warp Nacelle and knocks its Warp Coil out of alignment. Bishop tries to crawl into the Warp Nacelle to manually adjust the Warp Coil and is vaporized by a plasma discharge. 

This death significantly effected Mr. Bhoth and helped the player to further develop his character.

The Ludugia Entity would return/reappear in future seasons. 

Players get to improve their PC's stats. 

Season 3

Melissa/Lt. Datiri exits and Erica joins as a new PC Chief Helmsman, a Female Andorian Lt. JG Teela Rill.

Doctor Paker replaced by new NPC Chief Medical Officer, Lt./Doctor Margaret 'Maggie' Hanover. She has an unusual bedside manner and a fascination with all things Vulcan. She enters into a romantic subplot with Commander Solok at some point [a little off camera]. It eventually becomes a known quantity.

Captain Fletcher discovers that Captain T'Sada has been temporarily issued a small Cochrane Class Scout Ship. Fletcher manages to get one for the Prosperity which they christen the 'Rockwell'. The Prosperity gives up two of her standard shuttles but keeps two (the Mondrian and the Rothko). 

We first meet members of the core PCs' families, most notably Mr. Bhoth's father, Andorian Imperial Guard General Barath Bhoth (very likely my favorite NPC to play and use). Further development of Bhoth's background and relationship with his father and the Imperial Guard is showcased. We also meet Solok's older brother Selar, a [cool, Vulcan] Test Pilot. 

First Time Travel adventure. PCs 'Quantum Leap' into the lives of people from Prosperity's past and future. Inspired by but quite different from the Star Trek: TNG Series Finale, 'All Good Things...'.

We delve into Lt. Commander Carr's background for the first time, revealing he previously serviced with Starfleet Intelligence decrypting coded messages, primarily from the Rulans and Orion Pirates.

After meeting with an old flame and fellow spy, Carr gets the Intel necessary to thwart a Romulan/Orion Alliance plot. The group's previous sympathetic Romulan Sub-Commander is now a Commander and we give her evidence on the Orions' plan to double-cross the Romulans, earning her favor even though the overall operation was a failure.

The USS Prosperity is overhauled and the Rear Photon system better intergrated. Based on design improvements by Bhoth, the Starboard Nacelle issue is fixed. The ship is upgraded from the Mark II to the Mark IIB. 

Season 4

Lt. Commander Carr becomes Chief of Security. 

Erica moves out of town and Lt. Rill becomes an NPC.

Shae is first encountered in the mid-end of the season as part of a larger adventure featuring new aliens, a lost Romulan ship, and Time Travel.

Romantic subplot develops between Bhoth and Shae.

Starfleet announces that aside from five Ventura Class Starships, the rest of the remaining active vessels will be mothballed. If the remaining five are badly damaged they will also be decommissioned. Resources are being diverted to the further construction and development of the Constitution and the newer Miranda Class. Mr. Bhoth furious.

An encounter with other Cheronian survivors prompts Capt. Fletcher to defend her charge and Shae decides to take political asylum in the Federation. 

The Prosperity's successes have given the Federation more information of the Sierra and Tango Sector Blocks, as well new allies in these regions. This opens up the opportunity for a new permanent Starfleet base. Plans are made to establish Deep Space 5. 

PCs improve again, each adding a new Focus and a new Talent.

Season 5

Season opens with a party celebrating Deep Space 5 going fully operational. Admiral George Bankroft, former Captain of the USS Colin Powell, is given command. Bankroft met Capt. Fletcher when she was a Lieutenant and knew she'd go places. He is happy to have her and her ship assigned to DS5 as their 'port of call'.

At the party we also meet Solok's younger sister and Bhoth's 'Blood Brother'. They are engaged and in a later adventure inspired by 'Amok Time' they marry after their chosen representative champions, Bhoth and Solok, fight to the death! In the end everyone rejoices and Prosperity's odd couple are now technically 'related'.

USS Prosperity assigned to new area close to the Kzinti Patriarchy and not far from First Federation space.

Carr's spy skills come in handy again in order to prevent the Kzinti Patriarchy from invading the Kasheeta Matriarchy. Captain Fletcher negotiates with the Martriarchy and they submit a request to join the Federation. 

Mr. Bhoth and [NPC] Mr. Gravph attempt to save the Ventura Class by analyzing its strengths, weaknesses, and updating its design. Capt. Fletcher submits propsal to Starfleet. Starfleet not only approves, upgrading all Venturas to the Mark IIB configuration but considers making Bhoth's changes a Mark III and perhaps building new Ventura Class vessels of the Mark III type. Ventura Class saved!

Season 6

This season is focused on horror themes, with inspiration and influence from the scarier episodes of The Original Series and the Twilight Zone. 

An alien mad scientist tries to prove he can resurrect the dead by first destroying himself and having a coffin-like medical pod bring him back to life using the Proto-Matter in the Accretion Disk of a Black Hole. One of our best episodes ever! 

The Ludugia Entity returns and wrecks havoc on a colony world, forcing Captain Fletcher and her team to eliminate it once and for all by trapping it in a Wormhole Anomaly and then collapsing the Anomaly on the creature. 

First Contact and numerous dealings with the draconic looking Knuckrians. Initially quite hostile, they are revealed to be a deeply spiritual and honorable people fooled into believing the Federation was their enemy by a third party.

Season 7

After a three month refit, the USS Prosperity emerges from the Utopia Planitia Shipyards completely rebuilt into his Mark III configuration. 

The Vault War - The Khelayans, a former subject species of the Klingon Empire, suddenly go on the offensive. They started by acting like pirates but quickly escalated their efforts towards sieging UFP colonies and outposts. As it turned out, after decades of being bullied and having to kowtow to the Klingons, the Khelayans had discovered a fortress and extremely high technology buried beneath their homeworld. This fortress, 'The Vault' as they called it, had been built by a militant offshoot of the Precursors known as the Janissaries.  

At some point, the Prosperity came to the rescue of a Starfleet expedition to a possible Janissary site who did not report back. Eventually, the PCs discover a secret space inside a large blue-gold crystal structure wherein they encounter a Vulcan Science Officer who has been merged with the blue-gold crystaline mineral. His name was Sunut and he was linked with a hive mind of long dead Janissaries, all their thoughts uploaded into the ancient formation around him.

Commander Solok mind-melded with Sunut and was able to communicate with the original young man. There Solok obtained key intel that would aid the crew later (see below). He also transfered Sunut's Katra into his own mind, promising to return it to Vulcan in the future. 

The situation ended in a large scale fleet operation against the makeshift Khelayan fleet, led by Captain Anne Fletcher and the Prosperity. At the same time, Mr. Carr and Mr. Solok snuck down to the surface of the planet and used intel obtained earlier in the season to infiltrate the Vault site. As a battle raged in space, Carr covered Solok while the First Officer focused the psychic resonance of Sunut into the Vault's 'mainframe'. The union of Solok-Sunut overrode the Janissary's systems and more importantly, the Khelayans control over it. 

It was both a spectacular and very personal ending. The leader of the Khelayans surrendered to Captain Fletcher and the forces of Starfleet. Solok made the decision that life is too chaotic and short to not live it to the fullest. He decided to ask Doctor Maggie Hanover to marry him. She said yes.

The Season Finale saw the entire gang travel to Vulcan for the big event, held at Solok's family's estate. We see everyone in his family; his parents, his older brother, older sister and her family, his younger sister and Bhoth's blood brother. We also meet Hanover's parents who are basically Archie and Edith Bunker [of All in the Family fame]. Before the marriage itself, the group goes to a sacred site near Vulcan's only sea in order for Solok to release Sunut's Katra. 

Following this, Solok and Hanover take a temporary leave of absense from Starfleet.

Season 8

How it's going.

Bhoth is promoted to full Commander and becomes First Officer. Lt. Commander Carr is made Chief Science Officer. 

Leo (who played Solok) brings in a new character, a young but very talented Helmsman named Charlie Wilder. 

We received a few new (NPC) crewmembers including a new Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Richard Osgood. We also see a rival for Mr. Wilder in the form of the female Andorian Shuttle Pilot Lt. Kepna Theph.  

Longtime Asst. Chief Science Officer T'Sora is transfered to the USS Persistence, the first new Ventura Class in 44 years. There she is given the position of Chief Science Officer. 

Season 8 introduced our newest Player Character as well as revisiting some elements that have persisted throughout the campaign. The biggest event was the culmination of every Andorian Imperial Guard story we've ever had, as numerous dignitaries assembled to finalize the dissolution of that group. This prompted a renegade faction within the Andorian space fleet to attempt a coup. The high stakes action was equaled by the philosophical and heartfelt conversations between Bhoth and a potential traitor, Bhoth and his father, and the Captain, Bhoth's father, and the renegades. 

We also had our very first Mirror Universe episode - a two-parter!

Great stuff. 

Season 9

The PC's improve again this season with a stat raise. 

Ensign Shae comes to the forefront once more as the colony of New Cheron tries to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the Federation, offering some of their advanced technological knowledge for some humanitarian aid. Prosperity visits the colony to observe whether or not they've overcome their prejudices and uncover one nihilists attempt to make sure the Cheronians go extinct as fate intended. 

We're only a few episodes in so this retelling has essentially caught up to the present. 

"...HISTORICAL RECORDS SUMMARY COMPLETE..."

Sorry this one was so late and so long. I really didn't know how to summarize 12 years of [usually] consistent bi-weekly gaming. There is just so much material and there were so many golden moments! 

Hopefully I didn't overdo it too much. 

AD

Barking Alien