"Roleplaying in the Final Frontier" is the last of six licensed short stories published by FASA in Stardate Magazine, this one in vol.1 #7. Detailed annotations explored how role-players of each character might handle key situations. In the story, the USS Enterprise engaged a Klingon cruiser while searching for a missing Federation scout ship.
Description
- Because many of our readers are unfamiliar with or new at role-playing games, the following will serve as an introduction. For those with some experience, it also offers a fairly interesting scenario written up in an unusual form.
Summary
- Captain's log, stardate 7744.6
- In response to orders from Star Fleet Command Headquarters in this sector, the USS Enterprise is approaching the Tareel star system. According to her last subspace transmission, scout vessel Xanadu intended to perform a preliminary survey of the third planet of this system. Xanadu has since failed to make any of its scheduled subspace reports. The Enterprise's mission: Investigate the Xanadu's disappearance.
Upon entering the unclaimed system, the USS Enterprise finds a Klingon cruiser in orbit. Commander Klavan considers the Enterprise's presence suspicious, as they are also searching for a lost scout. Klavan wants to board the Enterprise, and IKS Obedience accelerates with shields raised. Kirk veers off, making Klavan think they are retreating. When Obedience overtakes them and fires, the Enterprise unexpectedly slips behind them and returns fire. Klavan had diverted shield power forward, not anticipating an attack from the rear. Phasers heavily damage the Klingon ship's warp engines, significantly reducing available power, and it withdraws.
Spock detects multiple crashed vessels on the planet's surface. As the Enterprise orbits, a tractor beam suddenly snares the ship. Diverting power to engines, the Enterprise struggles to pull away. The beam shuts off after they've retreated 1,000 kilometers, leaving them beyond transporter range of Tareel III. Hikaru Sulu places the ship in an elliptical orbit to dip within range for beaming every three hours. Spock chooses a landing site near two downed vessels, and an armed landing party arrives amid a brief fire fight between Starfleet and Klingon personnel.
Xanadu's wounded first officer introduces surviving crew, including Commander George Lorenzo. Lorenzo explains that the tractor is housed within an automated complex guarded by robot sentries. Doctor Wagner was badly hurt by the robots, which are firing crude disruptor-type blasts. Leonard McCoy says Wagner won't last three hours, so they need to take out the tractor beam. Kirk calls a cease fire to parley with the Klingon scout's leader, and Krava eventually agrees to help assault the complex.
As one group draws the robots' attention, separate Starfleet and Klingon teams sneak into the complex and destroy all of the robots. But the Klingons have kidnapped McCoy and guard Sharon Lee, who were caring for Wagner, and now bring them into the complex at gunpoint. Lee interrupts Krava's bragging with an elbow to the stomach. She then flips him to the ground and disarms him. McCoy punches his captor in the face, and Kirk warns the other Klingons back with his phaser.
After the tractor is deactivated, the landing party returns safely to the Enterprise. McCoy treats Xanadu's injured crew in sickbay, complaining that doctors make the worst patients. Kirk and McCoy talk about asking Lee out, but Chekov is already giving her a tour of the ship.
References
Characters
- Pavel Chekov • Corben • Thaddeus Cosgrove • Del Rey • James T. Kirk • Klavan • Krava • Sharon Lee • George Lorenzo • Leonard McCoy • Sparks M'narrn • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Nyota Uhura • Wagner • unnamed USS Enterprise personnel (security chief)
Starships and vehicles
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • IKS Obedience • • unnamed Klingon starships (Klingon scout ship)
Locations
Races and cultures
States and organizations
Science and classification
- artificial gravity • command chair • communicator • computer • disruptor • disruptor pistol • intercom • medikit • medscanner • phaser • robot • sensor • shields • subspace communication • tractor beam • transporter • transporter pad • type-2 phaser • viewscreen
Occupations and titles
- captain • commander • communications officer • doctor • engineer • ensign • first officer • guard • helmsman • lieutenant • lieutenant commander • medical officer • navigator • officer • science officer • security chief • security officer
Other references
- atmosphere • beam • bridge • command division • communications • continent • diplomacy • handshake • headache • heaven • hour • kilometer • landing party • life • log entry • logic • medical • metal • minute • second • sector • sickbay • space • standard orbit • Starfleet uniform • starship • subspace • sun • system • truce • Vulcan nerve pinch • warship
Appendices
Related media
- FASA RPG modules: Star Fleet Officer's Manual, Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook, Game Operations Manual – Second edition game manuals were cited in the story's annotations.
- FASA RPG module: Continuing the Line – An automated complex on Aeon VI was defended by Combot robot drones.
- TOS comic: "Called Home" – A massively powerful tractor beam entrapped the Enterprise in 2273 and damaged the ship's warp engines.
Background
- This story has not been regarded in the Pocket Books Timeline. Despite having a stardate in the 7000s and incorporating file art of the refit USS Enterprise, the story is set in the 2260s. Kirk and Spock were drawn wearing 2260s Starfleet uniforms. Crew ranks were also from that decade, and Chekov was learning on the job as a junior officer, suggesting a placement in 2267 or 2268. Hence, in the Memory Beta Chronology, as far as no further input can be provided regarding that topic, it has been placed in the vicinity of other FASA short stories like "Planetfall".
Images
Connections
Timeline
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: Boarding Party |
FASA short stories | Next story: last story |
| Previous story: Boarding Party Stardate Magazine |
TOS short stories | Next story: Though Hell Should Bar the Way Enterprise Logs |
| Previous story: first Star Trek story |
Stories by: Fantasimulation Associates |
Next story: most recent work |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: Boarding Party Stardate Magazine |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: In Tempest's Wake Chapters 1 - 2, 4, 6, 8 & 11 Vanguard |
| Previous adventure: Planetfall Stardate Magazine |
voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), Year Four | Next adventure: In Tempest's Wake Chapters 1 - 2, 4, 6, 8 & 11 Vanguard |