- Location
- Australia
McCoy makes an appearance in the first TNG episode, so he has a way to go yet
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
-
- Tags
- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
It seems like with future advances in medicine average human lifespan is now at least over 100. This also goes some way to explaining why we can have admirals in their 70s and 80s who still go on to have productive retirements afterwards.
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
70's are the new 30's these days. Or so the saying goes IIRC.
2325Q4: Task Force Royal
Jenny
anonymous user
- Location
- maryland
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Task Force Commodore's Log, Stardate 24218, Commodore Sabek
(Vulcan, male)
What is that human expression, "The King is dead, long live the King?" As far as I know, it is not "The King is dead, long live the Kings." Logically, it would be the opposite. Yet the Princes of the Gorn Hegemony have not heeded such advice.
Ten weeks ago, King Sorsharnn died, reportedly from a massive stroke suffered during a hunting expedition in the jungles of Gornar. Prince Sorlenn, who was Crown Prince until Sorsharnn revoked the title and gave it to Celzash late this spring, claimed that Sorsharnn's last words were to once again proclaim him as heir; mere days later, the Secret Department released evidence suggesting that Sorlenn was of 'illegitimate parentage', making him unfit for the throne. The High Priestesses of the Holy Assembly of S'Yahazah, traditional arbiters of succession in the Gorn Hegemony, called for a conclave to be held in three months. Legate Piten and I both presumed that our proper course was to prevent our rival from influencing the Holy Assembly on behalf of their preferred prince. Events would prove this to be incorrect.
Nine weeks ago, Sorlenn's son-in-law, returning by shuttle from a hunting trip on Kharhazad, narrowly survived an attack from a private yacht owned by a cousin of Erzsesh. Seemingly in retaliation, the next day, runabouts from a mining operation owned by Sorlenn's oldest son attacked multiple holdings of Erzsesh's cousin on Gornar. While the first-rate battleship HMS Prince of Ghidar was on station and could have easily intervened, the ship's captain was Admiral Grannar's protégé, and apparently is loyal to Sorlenn.
Eight weeks ago, we conducted an operation on Ghidar to spirit away the engineer who had sent his walking-tank prototype on a rampage last quarter before secretly agreeing to escape with us into exile; this operation succeeded despite the unexpected arrival of the S'Sech. The Secret Department was apparently too distracted by other matters to interfere with us, to our welcome surprise. However, when we sought to discuss the succession with seven influential Holy Assembly priestesses on Ghidar the next day, we discovered that none were willing to talk with us, and that all had had a family member "taken into protective custody" that night.
Seven weeks ago, a trade summit with influential boyars and Holy Assembly administrators in attendance at a coastal resort on Seudath was interrupted when a Marine Forces maritime craft pulled up alongside the resort and disgorged troops, who proceeded to clash with the boyars' private security before putting five members of the Gorn delegation into "protective custody".
Six weeks ago, an icefight league victory party in Gornar's second-largest city turned into a riot that lasted for six hours before Star Infantry were called down from the Prince of Ghidar to repress the rioters. Nash zh'Rhashaan, who was present on the ground at the time, reported that the rioters seemed to focus particularly on looting Florist-owned businesses, and suspected outside influence on the riot.
Five weeks ago, an official summit aboard the HMS Ythannak, flagship of the Gorn Royal Fleet, was marked by a duel between the Ythannak's Captain and First Officer, ending in the latter's death, apparently fought over the subject of the succession. Royal Fleet officers are by regulation forbidden from dueling, and while this regulation is often winked at, it is uncommon for Gorn duels to be fought to the death. Investigating the situation, we have found that at least 107 such duels between Royal Fleet officers have taken place across the Fleet in the time since Sorsharnn's death.
Four weeks ago, an attempt to meet with a wealthy industrialist (whose sister is a High Priestess) on Bygoth was nearly interrupted when his shuttle was bombed at the spaceport; we beamed him out in time to save his life. While bombing attacks on wealthy industrialists are not unheard of on Bygoth, our investigation found that this one was unusual, due to the explosives used - perunite, commonly used by Dawiar asteroid miners but rarely seen in Gorn space. The industrialist himself believes that he was targeted by pro-Erzsesh partisans, possibly within the Secret Department, rather than by any of the many rebel and anarchist groups on Bygoth.
Since then, the past four weeks have been marked by a continued upsurge in violence. Daily clashes between partisans of Sorlenn and Erzsesh have made the work of diplomacy increasingly difficult. Most Gorn nobles I have spoken to have been unconcerned by the mounting breakdown in social order, seeing it as "normal" for a succession. They note that the Fleet is not fighting itself - at least not spaceship-to-spaceship.
At least diplomacy has been difficult for my opposite number as well. According to my sources, there have been multiple incidents of Ashalla Pact diplomats, officials, and even soldiers on leave being threatened, and in multiple incidents, openly attacked, particularly on visits to Gornar and Seudath --
[sound of an incoming message]
Computer, pause recording.
***
Green Branch & Gold Leaf is not the best teahouse on Gornar. While its selection is extremely impressive, it can't match that of teahouses supported by the wealthier dukes, boyars, and princes of the Gorn Hegemony. What it is, however, is a quiet place in an unimportant trading port, far from the eyes of the Secret Department. That, and the fact that it is not some "hobby-shop of some puffed-up Gorn noble", is why Legate Piten claims he selected this particular teahouse as the site for his private chat with Sabek.
As the server steps away from their table, Piten is smiling at Sabek, sitting across from him. "I hope you didn't mind my ordering for the both of us. I am paying; after all, you're here on my invitation. And as I understand it, greenthread tea is your preference."
Sabek raises an eyebrow slightly. "Yes. I picked up a taste for it during an assignment on Earth. Where did you pick up a taste for Earl Grey?"
"I prefer to leave that a mystery."
"Along with the purpose of this private discussion," Sabek notes.
"Fair enough. It has become increasingly clear to me that the little game of kotra between you and I has escalated into something bigger. Something alarming. Where does this end? If this is an 'orderly transfer of power', what does that say about Gorn society?"
"The Conclave --"
"Come now, do you seriously expect Sorlenn or Erzsesh to back down now?"
"No. I expect one to kill the other, as is typical in Gorn succession disputes. But --"
"Ah, but this is no 'typical Gorn succession dispute'. There are our two squadrons in the heart of the Hegemony, each trying to influence, manipulate, cajole." Piten pauses, then says, quietly, "We have, both of us, laid the tinder that may burn up Gorn space."
Sabek elects not to point out who has been laying the most tinder. Instead, he notes, "This pretense of being troubled by the fate of an alien empire rings false."
Piten smiles slightly. "You don't say. Does it trouble you, the prospect of civil war and social upheaval in the Hegemony?"
Sabek nods. "A true civil war could cost thousands, perhaps millions, of lives."
"Gorn lives. Stuck-up arrogant inefficient lives."
"Then you want a civil war?"
"Oh state's sake, no! A little regime change, sure, but not this senseless, useless violence." As if to punctuate Piten's point, the two hear the sounds of disruptor fire a few blocks away. "I've ... worked in other monarchies before. This is worse than Dawiar clan politics, than Kobheerian ritual challenges. It is worse, in fact, than with past Gorn succession crises, when the parties involved at least had the sense to confine their pointless violence to the useless nobility. You had people on the ground during the riots six weeks ago, did you not? Erzsesh does not understand what forces he is unleashing. I suspect the same of Sorlenn. Another six weeks of this, and the Gorn will be seeing a true social revolution, not a petty dynastic spat."
"Sorlenn is concerned largely with securing his 'rightful place' on the throne," Sabek notes.
"Sorlenn thinks that he has you in his back pocket. If he didn't, he wouldn't be pushing so hard, and the Hegemony wouldn't be on the verge of civil war, or worse, revolution."
"And Erzsesh thinks the same of you."
"True!" Piten says. "At least he knows from Kharhazad how to suppress what he's been unleashing."
"Yes. Import others to do the job," Sabek says, and raises an eyebrow.
"Touché."
"You would be the man for the job, too. As you say, you have worked in monarchies before, and, of course, you have three years of direct experience with this one. And you have a working relationship with the man you would put on the throne." Sabek smiles slightly. "You seem to find this prospect not to your liking."
"I will do my duty for the State," Piten says flatly. "Only... would bringing the Gorn Hegemony - this Gorn Hegemony - into an alliance, as it is now, really be fulfilling my duty? Cardassia did not come here to wage a civil war, nor to put down a revolution, yet that is what would be asked of us. That said, I'm afraid we cannot leave the Gorn in your hands. You're forcing my hand by being here."
"And you mine."
"Alright, so what if we both leave?" Piten says, almost jokingly.
Sabek nods, entirely seriously.
There's a long pause, and then Piten says, "...yes, what if we both leave? Perhaps Sorlenn winds up in power... but because you will have left him in the lurch when he most needed your support, he won't be particularly fond of you, even if he doesn't much like us. Perhaps Erzsesh winds up in power... in which case he has no reason to look to you for support. Nor us, but then we're no worse off than before. Or perhaps they just blow each other up, but at least then they won't take our ships with them. Besides, then they'd be your problem."
"My mission ends when yours does, Legate."
***
Task Force Commander's Log, Stardate 24222, Commodore Sabek
(Vulcan, male)
With the enthusiastic approval of the Council, the last ships of Task Force Royal and of the Ashalla Pact task force have left Gorn space, per mutual agreement. Perhaps the situation will calm down without our presence inflaming matters; perhaps there will be a true civil war, or a revolution. Regardless, the Gorn will be working out their own problems, without outside interference.
They will not miss either of us particularly.
[Gorn-Cardassian Diplomacy tag disappears]
[-50 relations with the Gorn (now 24/100)]
[Task Force Royal is concluded.]
[Commodore Sabek gains +1 Presence from experience working on Task Force Royal]
(Vulcan, male)
What is that human expression, "The King is dead, long live the King?" As far as I know, it is not "The King is dead, long live the Kings." Logically, it would be the opposite. Yet the Princes of the Gorn Hegemony have not heeded such advice.
Ten weeks ago, King Sorsharnn died, reportedly from a massive stroke suffered during a hunting expedition in the jungles of Gornar. Prince Sorlenn, who was Crown Prince until Sorsharnn revoked the title and gave it to Celzash late this spring, claimed that Sorsharnn's last words were to once again proclaim him as heir; mere days later, the Secret Department released evidence suggesting that Sorlenn was of 'illegitimate parentage', making him unfit for the throne. The High Priestesses of the Holy Assembly of S'Yahazah, traditional arbiters of succession in the Gorn Hegemony, called for a conclave to be held in three months. Legate Piten and I both presumed that our proper course was to prevent our rival from influencing the Holy Assembly on behalf of their preferred prince. Events would prove this to be incorrect.
Nine weeks ago, Sorlenn's son-in-law, returning by shuttle from a hunting trip on Kharhazad, narrowly survived an attack from a private yacht owned by a cousin of Erzsesh. Seemingly in retaliation, the next day, runabouts from a mining operation owned by Sorlenn's oldest son attacked multiple holdings of Erzsesh's cousin on Gornar. While the first-rate battleship HMS Prince of Ghidar was on station and could have easily intervened, the ship's captain was Admiral Grannar's protégé, and apparently is loyal to Sorlenn.
Eight weeks ago, we conducted an operation on Ghidar to spirit away the engineer who had sent his walking-tank prototype on a rampage last quarter before secretly agreeing to escape with us into exile; this operation succeeded despite the unexpected arrival of the S'Sech. The Secret Department was apparently too distracted by other matters to interfere with us, to our welcome surprise. However, when we sought to discuss the succession with seven influential Holy Assembly priestesses on Ghidar the next day, we discovered that none were willing to talk with us, and that all had had a family member "taken into protective custody" that night.
Seven weeks ago, a trade summit with influential boyars and Holy Assembly administrators in attendance at a coastal resort on Seudath was interrupted when a Marine Forces maritime craft pulled up alongside the resort and disgorged troops, who proceeded to clash with the boyars' private security before putting five members of the Gorn delegation into "protective custody".
Six weeks ago, an icefight league victory party in Gornar's second-largest city turned into a riot that lasted for six hours before Star Infantry were called down from the Prince of Ghidar to repress the rioters. Nash zh'Rhashaan, who was present on the ground at the time, reported that the rioters seemed to focus particularly on looting Florist-owned businesses, and suspected outside influence on the riot.
Five weeks ago, an official summit aboard the HMS Ythannak, flagship of the Gorn Royal Fleet, was marked by a duel between the Ythannak's Captain and First Officer, ending in the latter's death, apparently fought over the subject of the succession. Royal Fleet officers are by regulation forbidden from dueling, and while this regulation is often winked at, it is uncommon for Gorn duels to be fought to the death. Investigating the situation, we have found that at least 107 such duels between Royal Fleet officers have taken place across the Fleet in the time since Sorsharnn's death.
Four weeks ago, an attempt to meet with a wealthy industrialist (whose sister is a High Priestess) on Bygoth was nearly interrupted when his shuttle was bombed at the spaceport; we beamed him out in time to save his life. While bombing attacks on wealthy industrialists are not unheard of on Bygoth, our investigation found that this one was unusual, due to the explosives used - perunite, commonly used by Dawiar asteroid miners but rarely seen in Gorn space. The industrialist himself believes that he was targeted by pro-Erzsesh partisans, possibly within the Secret Department, rather than by any of the many rebel and anarchist groups on Bygoth.
Since then, the past four weeks have been marked by a continued upsurge in violence. Daily clashes between partisans of Sorlenn and Erzsesh have made the work of diplomacy increasingly difficult. Most Gorn nobles I have spoken to have been unconcerned by the mounting breakdown in social order, seeing it as "normal" for a succession. They note that the Fleet is not fighting itself - at least not spaceship-to-spaceship.
At least diplomacy has been difficult for my opposite number as well. According to my sources, there have been multiple incidents of Ashalla Pact diplomats, officials, and even soldiers on leave being threatened, and in multiple incidents, openly attacked, particularly on visits to Gornar and Seudath --
[sound of an incoming message]
Computer, pause recording.
***
Green Branch & Gold Leaf is not the best teahouse on Gornar. While its selection is extremely impressive, it can't match that of teahouses supported by the wealthier dukes, boyars, and princes of the Gorn Hegemony. What it is, however, is a quiet place in an unimportant trading port, far from the eyes of the Secret Department. That, and the fact that it is not some "hobby-shop of some puffed-up Gorn noble", is why Legate Piten claims he selected this particular teahouse as the site for his private chat with Sabek.
As the server steps away from their table, Piten is smiling at Sabek, sitting across from him. "I hope you didn't mind my ordering for the both of us. I am paying; after all, you're here on my invitation. And as I understand it, greenthread tea is your preference."
Sabek raises an eyebrow slightly. "Yes. I picked up a taste for it during an assignment on Earth. Where did you pick up a taste for Earl Grey?"
"I prefer to leave that a mystery."
"Along with the purpose of this private discussion," Sabek notes.
"Fair enough. It has become increasingly clear to me that the little game of kotra between you and I has escalated into something bigger. Something alarming. Where does this end? If this is an 'orderly transfer of power', what does that say about Gorn society?"
"The Conclave --"
"Come now, do you seriously expect Sorlenn or Erzsesh to back down now?"
"No. I expect one to kill the other, as is typical in Gorn succession disputes. But --"
"Ah, but this is no 'typical Gorn succession dispute'. There are our two squadrons in the heart of the Hegemony, each trying to influence, manipulate, cajole." Piten pauses, then says, quietly, "We have, both of us, laid the tinder that may burn up Gorn space."
Sabek elects not to point out who has been laying the most tinder. Instead, he notes, "This pretense of being troubled by the fate of an alien empire rings false."
Piten smiles slightly. "You don't say. Does it trouble you, the prospect of civil war and social upheaval in the Hegemony?"
Sabek nods. "A true civil war could cost thousands, perhaps millions, of lives."
"Gorn lives. Stuck-up arrogant inefficient lives."
"Then you want a civil war?"
"Oh state's sake, no! A little regime change, sure, but not this senseless, useless violence." As if to punctuate Piten's point, the two hear the sounds of disruptor fire a few blocks away. "I've ... worked in other monarchies before. This is worse than Dawiar clan politics, than Kobheerian ritual challenges. It is worse, in fact, than with past Gorn succession crises, when the parties involved at least had the sense to confine their pointless violence to the useless nobility. You had people on the ground during the riots six weeks ago, did you not? Erzsesh does not understand what forces he is unleashing. I suspect the same of Sorlenn. Another six weeks of this, and the Gorn will be seeing a true social revolution, not a petty dynastic spat."
"Sorlenn is concerned largely with securing his 'rightful place' on the throne," Sabek notes.
"Sorlenn thinks that he has you in his back pocket. If he didn't, he wouldn't be pushing so hard, and the Hegemony wouldn't be on the verge of civil war, or worse, revolution."
"And Erzsesh thinks the same of you."
"True!" Piten says. "At least he knows from Kharhazad how to suppress what he's been unleashing."
"Yes. Import others to do the job," Sabek says, and raises an eyebrow.
"Touché."
"You would be the man for the job, too. As you say, you have worked in monarchies before, and, of course, you have three years of direct experience with this one. And you have a working relationship with the man you would put on the throne." Sabek smiles slightly. "You seem to find this prospect not to your liking."
"I will do my duty for the State," Piten says flatly. "Only... would bringing the Gorn Hegemony - this Gorn Hegemony - into an alliance, as it is now, really be fulfilling my duty? Cardassia did not come here to wage a civil war, nor to put down a revolution, yet that is what would be asked of us. That said, I'm afraid we cannot leave the Gorn in your hands. You're forcing my hand by being here."
"And you mine."
"Alright, so what if we both leave?" Piten says, almost jokingly.
Sabek nods, entirely seriously.
There's a long pause, and then Piten says, "...yes, what if we both leave? Perhaps Sorlenn winds up in power... but because you will have left him in the lurch when he most needed your support, he won't be particularly fond of you, even if he doesn't much like us. Perhaps Erzsesh winds up in power... in which case he has no reason to look to you for support. Nor us, but then we're no worse off than before. Or perhaps they just blow each other up, but at least then they won't take our ships with them. Besides, then they'd be your problem."
"My mission ends when yours does, Legate."
***
Task Force Commander's Log, Stardate 24222, Commodore Sabek
(Vulcan, male)
With the enthusiastic approval of the Council, the last ships of Task Force Royal and of the Ashalla Pact task force have left Gorn space, per mutual agreement. Perhaps the situation will calm down without our presence inflaming matters; perhaps there will be a true civil war, or a revolution. Regardless, the Gorn will be working out their own problems, without outside interference.
They will not miss either of us particularly.
[Gorn-Cardassian Diplomacy tag disappears]
[-50 relations with the Gorn (now 24/100)]
[Task Force Royal is concluded.]
[Commodore Sabek gains +1 Presence from experience working on Task Force Royal]
- Location
- Australia
You still avoided ending up with an Ashalla Pact aligned revanchist Gorn Empire on your border.
- Location
- USA
Yeah, all in all a wash that is slightly more beneficial for us. The -50 hurts but it is nothing we can't deal with. The Gorn haven't completely broken ties with us and I am confident that we will be able to rebuild relations with them, especially with the Cardassians no longer an issue.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
I assume that would have happened, had we simply kept our ships home?
- Location
- madison
That was deeply unsatisfying. Especially after we let them eat the dawiar as part of a plan to try and court them.
- Location
- Cyberspace
Likely; the Pact would've supported one candidate, and others wouldn't have a similar backing.
To a certain extent, the Gorn not falling in with the Pact is a sufficient victory for now. The Cardassians likely put in a similar amount of effort as to the Task Force and didn't get anywhere.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
@OneirosTheWriter
This.
Narratively, I get why you're basically saying "the realistic outcome here is an excessively violent Gorn succession crisis and/or civil war, which favors nobody, so mutual withdrawal makes sense."
At the same time, we made a significant sacrifice and gave up our hope of ever recruiting one of the first species we met in the game (who are now being tyrannized by Cardassians and/or Gorn), in hopes of achieving a positive result with the Gorn.
So hopefully this will at least register as we are not happy, even if there are logical reasons why a pleasing outcome could not have occurred, or why dynamics have been changing to make things be the way that they now are.
I'm mainly saying this because I don't want QM disconnect from the emotional state of the playerbase to be a problem again, as it was with the Harmony. This isn't "you made a bad decision," it's "please be advised that the players will now have reason to think that significant sacrifices were made in vain." Not so much the ships, as the Dawiar.
This could perhaps be corrected by creating a situation whereby at some future time, the Dawiar take advantage of the Gorn succession crisis to liberate themselves from Gorn domination, which would ALSO be logical given that the Dawiar are an infamously proud and stubborn species, and are likely to be restive under any foreign yoke, let alone the creaking yoke of an empire ill-equipped to keep the lock on.
- Location
- Australia
We know, but I do hope you understand that the Ashalla Pact as well invested heavily into this scenario, and the Gorn had a vote as well. Moreover, although they are not allied, this is preferable outcome to many alternatives. Intervening in the dynastic politics of a power the size of the Gorn is fraught with risk, and even had you had a perfect result, you would still be facing a brutally oppressive tyranny that keeps the majority of its population in serfdom - they would just happen to like you.
You have averted an Ashalla Pact entry by the Gorn Hegemony that would have completely upended your entire defence outlook.
You have averted an Ittick-ka-Gorn War that would have set the rim of the galaxy aflame and led to great slaughter.
You have taken great lumps out of the revanchist Gorn position, going a long way to avoid future complications.
The Gorn Hegemony is not nice, and even Task Force Royal becoming responsible for installing a friendly monarch would only at best dull the edge. And as for the Dawiar, the little potato people have not had their stories end yet.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Understood.
I'm mainly just hoping that we don't end up with an oopsie like [snip various causes of copious salt], caused by the QMs not accurately perceiving the player reaction to an event and thinking that [thing] was necessary to achieve [goal], when in fact it was not necessary, or [different thing] would have been more effective.
It's fine for unsatisfactory and bad things to happen, I just want to make sure there's no confusion about whether they are bad and unsatisfactory, and that in-game innocent species don't get eaten and screwed over by the fact that the plot kind of demands that we wind down our engagement with the Gorn.
- Location
- Australia
We know it wasn't a satisfying result, and in fact it is one that will cause Jime Okaar some headaches (not anything for players to worry about) because a lot of the various factions won't exactly like the outcome. Certainly, there's no homecoming ticker tape parade with this sort of result. Recently in particular there has been a lot of setbacks, upsets, reversals, and problems. But we are changing up a lot of systems to avoid situations like some of the recent Task Force-from-Hell experiences. Because part of the problem is how do we give you a satisfying outcome to something that is as arduous and long-fought as TF Royal? I don't think that we can, because the Gorn problems are deep-rooted and a task force flitting about and duelling with Cardassians isn't going to remake the social structure of a species that hit space when the Pyramids of Giza were young, and who last had a royal succession when Obama was President. This is why we want the more intensely focused short-term Task Forces, because we can make satisfying narratives in more digestible missions.
If its any consolation, this is more of a pain in the arse for the Cardassians than Starfleet, though, because they had a hell of a lot more to gain in this scenario than you guys did.
I'll just add... you aren't getting mixed results from TFs due to some kind of strict narrative mandate. You're getting mixed results because the results were mixed.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
I mean, yes, and it's not really surprising that the results were mixed. Task Force Royal's results have always been mixed, at best, and they've been winning-by-at-best-not-losing ever since their inception.
To some extent this is a result of us picking stretch goals (the Federation recruiting the Gorn, or even getting on track to do so, is a big stretch). To some extent it's a matter of a major rival working hard to counter our efforts. And to some extent, well... It's a game balance thing, on some level.
It's just important to at least talk about the emotional/player-experiential side of the game when a significant story arc like this wraps up, just so there's no misunderstandings that could cause salt later, you know what I mean?
- Location
- madison
The system the GMs put together is consistently producing mixed results. This is, keep in mind, a wrap up of a mechanic being shuttered. If it's producing the same output constantly, then talking about how that impact is affecting the game is valid.
End it on more or less the same events, but have a bit of hope for the future. Framing can deeply alter the emotional impact of how an update is felt. Like, a bit of musing that whatever comes next, the gorns old status quo is not going to be invincible as it once was, so hope remains.
It's a lot easier for the players to swallow bad thing happening if it's not presented as "you lose, gg no re" ending on even a vaguely hopeful note can soften the impact. Sure that's not always what you want, but I think at this exact moment, the thread does not have a very high tolerance for sudden defeats and setbacks, or even just things that feel like such.
Last edited:
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
I think that's a good point. Framing is huge.
Yeah, we've been kicked in the shorts a lot of times lately. We've managed to fend off some of the attacks and hold our own and maybe even start hitting back...
But we've been kicked in the shorts a lot of times.
- Location
- Australia
I'm just proud we got something out - no joke I was five minutes away from giving up and just putting a line at the top of the EOY that said, "Also, in noteworthy news, TF Royal came to a mutually agreed draw with the Cardassians as the locals take lumps out of each other in their big dapper-dino way."
- Location
- madison
It really really is, especially for resolutions. In a lot of ways, the framing of the ending of a plotline has a staggering amount of impact on how the entire chain is perceived. A catastrophe that ends with people starting to rally can feel better than a marginal victory that ends with people despairing.
On the bright side Starfleet has learned a valuable lesson: Don't dream big.
If we look at our history of Task Forces:
- Relief: Success - Cleared Agizisi of Grey Goo.
- Boldly: Success - Explored Adrazzi Gulf.
- Forward: Success - Deter attacks on the Trill.
- Breen: Failure - No notable intelligence gain.
- Unity: Success - Peace restored between OSA, Liao, and Licori.
- Buckler: Success - No trade ships lost during OSA/Liao/Licori war.
- Beyond: Failure - Harmony influence not cleared and heightened tensions with Harmony.
- Royal: Partial Failure - Succeeded in preventing the Cardassians from allying, failed in clearing Tags to allow for affiliation.
- Reassure: Successful - Cleared Cardassian threat and allied Ashidi.
- Righteous: Partial Failure - Abandoned affiliating Allupii, succeded in establishing an anti-Cardassian mutual defense pact with Dobetians.
- Chorus: Partial Failure - Abandoned clearing [Great Power Ambitions] but succeded in preventing Rimward War.
- Goodfoot: Successful - Affiliated Ur'razzi.
- Liberty: Failure - The Hishmeri are still raiding and slaving away just out of sight now.
- Argus: Failure - Licori civil war reignited.
- Welcome: Unknown - [Steller Shock] is not cleared yet but no clear indications the Task Force was disbanded.
- Dreaming: Unknown - Was incomplete as of Q3, no Q4 update yet.
So all told we stand at:
Successful: 7
Failures: 4
Partial Failures: 3
Unknown: 2
An even split between our successes and our failures (complete and partial). Except of course if you actually compared the Task Forces with the exception of Unity all those successes were on minor things that would have (normally) been handled easily with Diplomatic Pushes before the revised system. Meanwhile all our failures where on the large projects we attempted like befriending the Gorn, Hishmeri, and Ittick-Ka or finding out what is up with the Harmony*/securing our coreward border.*Yes we technically ended up doing that but not via Task Force Beyond.
So as I said at the start; the lesson to take away from all this is that attempting anything major is doomed to failure and we should stick to small unimportant things rather then trying to make the universe around us a friendlier place.