EPISODE 2: THAT WHICH IS UNKNOWN

CAPTAIN’S LOG: STARDATE 48448.3The El Dorado has been pulled from a routine patrol of the Neutral Zone and is
en route to the Takara system. Upon arrival, we are to supervise the field test of a new weapon under development
for Starfleet. With the Romulan border less than 20 light years away from Takara, Starfleet Intelligence is concerned
about attempts to steal the device. The crew is currently on alert and is expected to provide whatever security
measures are needed.

ACT 1
SCENE 1: The El Dorado drops out of warp at Takara and is informed that a Dr. Ja’Brenn is wai�ng for their arrival.
He requests to meet with an away team on the planet where he will run a simula�on of a new torpedo device prior
to installing it in a vessel for field-tes�ng.

Once planet-side, the PCs find themselves in a weapons development lab run by engineers of the Takaran Weapons
Development Execu�ve. Dr. Ja’Brenn requests a copy of the PCs’ ship schema�cs, telling them that it’s to help
provide the safest, yet closest, distance in which to observe the field test and obtain the best data for further
weapon development. Ja’Brenn then instructs the PCs to begin prepara�ons to transfer the new weapon – a Mk. 2
quantum torpedo – to their ship for travel to a designated test range deeper in the star system, where the actual
field test will take place. Once there, the torpedo will be placed on a derelict freighter and detonated, hence the
request for the ship’s specifica�ons in order to ensure safety for the observers.

Note: The Captain’s choice of whether to provide the information to Dr. Ja’Brenn will have ramifications later, as the
Klingons won’t simply target engines and shields when they attack but will target the ship’s weapons and warp
core. An Insight + Command Task with a Difficulty of 3 will detect some form of subterfuge, although Dr. Ja’Brenn
will always maintain his story.

DOCTOR JA’BRENN [MAJOR NPC]

TRAITS: Takaran
ATTRIBUTES
CONTROL 08 FITNESS 08 PRESENCE 08
DARING 10 INSIGHT 07 REASON 12
DISCIPLINES
COMMAND 02 SECURITY 01 SCIENCE 04
CONN 03 ENGINEERING 03 MEDICINE 02

FOCUSES: Quantum Mechanics, Singularity Physics

STRESS: 9 (12) RESISTANCE: 0
ATTACKS:
• Unarmed Strike (Melee, 2 CD, Knockdown, Size 1H, Non-lethal)
• Phaser type-1 (Ranged, 3 CD, Hidden 1, Size 1H, Charge)
SPECIAL RULES:
• Immune to Pain

Dr. Ja’Brenn runs a test simula�on for the PCs. A Reason + Science or Reason + Engineering Task with a Difficulty of
4 provides informa�on regarding the simulated test data that only specialists in quantum physics might
understand. While standard photon torpedoes u�lize mater/an�-mater warheads, quantum torpedoes use
plasma warheads to disrupt mater at a quantum level. Dr. Ja’Brenn appears extremely nervous throughout the
test.

Note: Task successes will provide information regarding the active power source of the torpedo as a micro-
singularity, providing a constant supply of almost unlimited power. The detonation of the torpedo implodes the
singularity, causing damage to physical structures and to subspace in the vicinity of the explosion, essentially
creating a rupture in subspace that prevents a stable warp field. Failure of this Task means that a science observer
realizes there are strange readings regarding the power signature of the torpedo without revealing the source as
being a micro-singularity.

The test runs smoothly and Ja’Brenn requests that the PCs transport the prototype to their ship and prepare to
travel to the coordinates provided.

A Control + Engineering Task with a Difficulty of 1 gets the torpedo safely aboard.

The PCs transport the torpedo at impulse speed to a test range deeper inside the Takaran system. Once they arrive
at the coordinates, a shutle is used to transport the torpedo to a decommissioned Huron-class cargo freighter with
a Daring or Control + Conn Task assisted by the shutle’s Engines + Conn with a Difficulty of 1. Once aboard, safely
placing the warhead in the freighter’s hull requires a Daring or Control + Engineering Task with a Difficulty of 1.

The shutle then quickly departs with a Control + Conn Task assisted by the shutle’s Engines + Conn, with a
Difficulty of 1 and rejoins the ship just in �me to move away to a safe viewing distance of 100,000 kilometers.

Upon reaching safe distance, the ship’s sensors detect three decloaking Klingon birds-of-prey. The Klingons decloak
between the PCs and the freighter and immediately fire on the PCs. One of the three breaks off its atack and races
toward the freighter while the other two atack the PCs’ ship.

Depending on the Captain’s earlier choice, the surprise atack allows the Klingons to target either ship’s engines or
her shield generators. Once the engines are damaged, weapons become their secondary target. However, if no
schema�cs were provided, the Klingons will target the ship’s shields and then her warp core in an atempt to
destroy the ship. Once the freighter is destroyed, all Klingon ships will immediately cloak and retreat.

B’REL-CLASS BIRD-OF-PREY
TRAITS: Klingon bird-of-prey
SYSTEMS
COMMS 09 ENGINES 07 STRUCTURE 07
COMPUTERS 08 SENSORS 09 WEAPONS 08
DEPARTMENTS
COMMAND 01 SECURITY 02 SCIENCE 02
CONN 04 ENGINEERING 02 MEDICINE 02

POWER: 7 SCALE: 3
SHIELDS: 9 RESISTANCE: 3
CREW: Talented (Atribute 10, Discipline 3)
ATTACKS:
• Disruptor Cannons (Energy, Range Close, 7 CD, Vicious 1)
• Photon Torpedoes (Torpedo, Range Long, 5 CD, High Yield)
• Tractor Beam (Strength 2)
SPECIAL RULES:
• Improved Reac�on Control System (Talent)
• Cloaking Devices (see pg. 259 of CRB)

Once the ship is disabled and the derelict freighter is destroyed, the Klingons will cloak and leave the field of batle.
A sharp-eyed opera�ons officer might no�ce their last reported heading was toward Romulan space, rolling a
Control + Conn Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Conn with a difficulty of 1.
The Takaran Security Directorate will respond to the batle, too litle too late. They will be furious and demand the
captain answer for his failures. A Presence + Command Task with a Difficulty of 2 gives the captain �me to
formulate the ques�ons that need to be asked here:

• What are Klingon birds-of-prey doing in Federation space?

• Who were in those birds-of-prey?
• Assuming they were Klingons, why are they breaking the peace treaty with the Federation?
• How did they know about the torpedo test in the first place?
• What happened to the torpedo?
• Why are Klingon ships heading for Romulan space?
• How can the Klingon ships and torpedoes be tracked before they disappear for good?
• If the Romulans are behind this, why did they have the Klingons steal it?
• Do the Romulans have an operative on Takara?
• Do the Romulans or Klingons have operatives working inside the Federation?

TAKARAN FAST-ATTACK SHIP

TRAITS: Takaran Small Warship
SYSTEMS
COMMS 09 ENGINES 09 STRUCTURE 08
COMPUTERS 08 SENSORS 09 WEAPONS 07
DEPARTMENTS
COMMAND 02 SECURITY 03 SCIENCE 01
CONN 03 ENGINEERING 04 MEDICINE 01

POWER: 9 SCALE: 3
SHIELDS: 11 RESISTANCE: 3
CREW: Proficient (Atribute 9, Discipline 2)
ATTACKS:
• Phaser Arrays (Energy, Range Medium, 6 CD, Versa�le 2)
• Photon Torpedoes (Torpedo, Range Long, 6 CD, High Yield)
• Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

Encourage ac�ve debate and ques�oning with the caveat that �me is of the essence if they wish to locate and
catch up to Klingons. Also, plans for retrieving the torpedo will need to be made and what to do with the Klingons
a�er the fact.

The Takaran fleet races off a�er the Klingons with six ships prepared to go to war and drag the Federa�on in with
them. Even if they catch up, they don’t have the firepower to take on 3 birds-of-prey. Starfleet Command responds
with: Find out what is going on and, under no circumstances, allow the Klingons to leave Federation space with the
torpedo as they may attempt to deliver it to the Romulans.

ACT 2
CAPTAIN’S LOG: SUPPLEMENTAL. The Klingons have attacked a Federation starship and destroyed a Takaran
freighter carrying a prototype weapon. After destroying the freighter, they fled the scene under cloak. We believe
they are headed for Romulan space. There are too many questions and not enough time to find clear answers: Why
is Dr. Ja’Brenn being so evasive? Starfleet has ordered us to provide assistance to the Takarans and confirm the
completion of the field test while ensuring the Romulans are unable to access the technology.
SCENE 1: A Reason + Science Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Science with a Difficulty of 3 will reveal that
there is only radia�on from Klingon disruptor fire and no par�cle emissions or subspace damage indica�ng the
destruc�on of the quantum torpedo. The torpedo was likely beamed away from the freighter prior to being
destroyed by the Klingons.

A Reason + Command Task with a Difficulty of 3 reveals that the Federa�on is on friendly terms with the Klingon
Empire so it’s likely that someone may have appropriated 3 Klingon vessels to use in the atack. With the Klingons
headed for Romulan space, it’s likely that the Romulans are somehow involved.

If ques�oned, Dr. Ja’Brenn becomes angry. His work has been interrupted and possibly derailed by the Klingon
atack. But he doesn’t seem interested in coopera�ng with the inves�ga�on and if the PCs bring up the Romulans
and conspiracy, he becomes even more angry. He reminds them that the Romulans have no reason to be interested
in Takara and that they wouldn’t risk commi�ng an act of war over a torpedo. He insists that it is the Klingons who
are responsible. An Insight + Security Task with a Difficulty of 4 hints that he may be involved. If ques�oned in
detail, a Presence or Reason + Security Task with a Difficulty of 2 will reveal that the schema�cs he used to develop
the quantum torpedo were provided by a fellow Takaran who was involved in a military raid in Romulan space,
though he did not know that at the �me he accepted them. Once he found out, he was upset to learn that
Romulan scien�sts had been killed and he decided to return the technology to them. He surrep��ously found a
contact in the Romulan government that would assist him. However, his own government was so impressed by his
technological breakthrough that they invited the Federa�on to witness their “success.” Ja’Brenn says that he’s a
scien�st first and, while he refuses to let the Takarans get away with what they did, he doesn’t want his
government to know that he is betraying them.

A review of the ship’s sensor logs and warp signatures of the Klingon vessels will reveal the iden�fica�on of the
ships. A Reason + Engineering or Security with a Difficulty of 3 provides a history for the ships as being purchased
by the Klingon House of Duras, who are believed to s�ll have associa�ons with the Romulans following the Klingon
Civil War three years ago.

A Reason + Security Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Security with a Difficulty of 3 reveals that, based on
sensor data, the Klingons knew about the existence of the weapon and where the tes�ng was taking place as they
were following the PCs’ ship.

If the PCs atempt to track the birds-of-prey, a Reason + Conn assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Conn with a Difficulty
of 2 should allow them to atempt to locate the Klingons and follow their trail.

SCENE 2: If the PCs want to find out what Dr. Ja’Brenn knows, a Presence + Command Task can give the ship’s
Captain the ability to persuade or in�midate Dr. Ja’Brenn into providing more informa�on into what’s happening.
Ques�oning Ja’Brenn is difficult and will eventually provoke a violent, physical response. He does everything
possible to stall the search for his torpedo, making him an obvious suspect. If the crew doubts his story, Ja’Brenn
will refuse to cooperate further. If the Takaran government is no�fied of his behavior and lack of coopera�on, it will
demand the return of their ci�zen for ques�oning in an act of treason.

If the PCs can’t get Ja’Brenn to cooperate, the players should be able to get the informa�on they need on their own
using Reason + Science on an Extended Task with a Work track of 12, a Magnitude of 4, and a base Difficulty of 4,
with each successful Breakthrough reducing the Difficulty by 1. This will provide the informa�on needed to track
the radia�on trail. Each interval will require 10 minutes of work with the amount of �me spent influencing later
scenes.

A Reason + Science Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Science with a Difficulty of 3 will allow the PCs to locate a
faint radia�on trail that could be emited by an opera�onal quantum torpedo.
If Ja’Brenn is taken into custody or learns he his being handed back to the Takaran government, he will atempt to
fleet and hide somewhere on the ship. He will likely escape into a Jefferies tube where he will wait. Loca�ng him
will be a simple mater with the ship’s sensors but he will fight to the death and will atempt to commit suicide if
caught.

He will atack from range at first, then begin melee atacks. If he realizes he cannot escape, he will “play dead.” A
Reason + Medicine task with a Difficulty of 5 will show that parts of his metabolism are s�ll func�oning but at a
very slow rate and only at the cellular level.

The Takarans will be unhappy that Ja’Brenn is dead and demand the return of his body to a Security Directorate
vessel at once. No autopsy will be allowed as it will be a religious viola�on. The Takaran body is a sacred temple
and is not to be dissected by outsiders.

An astute medical officer may recall a previous incident with a Takaran criminal aboard a Starfleet vessel. With an
Insight + Medicine Task with a Difficulty of 2, the doctor will recall and inves�gate the situa�on via medical records
from that �me.

An Insight or Presence + Command Task with a Difficulty of 3 will allow the PCs to keep Ja’Brenn’s body aboard
their ship. Should the medical officer remember the nature of Takaran physiology, the Difficulty level can be
reduced by 1 to allow for a more thorough inves�ga�on into the alleged death. On a failure, Ja’Brenn must be
returned to his people and a nearby Takaran ship will accept his body for transport.

At this point, the Takarans will no longer respond to hails or communica�ons. They will trail the PCs but will take no
hos�le ac�on against their ship.

SCENE 3: Atemp�ng a Control + Security Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Security with a Difficulty of 1, the
PCs will no�ce that their ship’s sensors are picking up wild energy fluctua�ons aboard one of the Klingon vessels.
None of the ships are cloaked and two of them have taken a defensive posi�on around the third. Once the PCs’
ship is within Medium range, the Klingon ships will break forma�on and atack the PCs’ ship at will. The PCs will
also no�ce that there are no power reading coming from the third vessel.

The Klingons will atempt to target the PCs’ ship’s shields and break them so they can beam aboard. Those Klingons
will use disruptor pistols and bat’leths while their ship con�nues to target the PCs’ ship’s weapons systems.
Meanwhile, the third ship appears dead in space and is emi�ng high levels of tachyon radia�on.

KLINGON WARRIORS [MINOR NPC]

TRAITS: Klingon
ATTRIBUTES
CONTROL 09 FITNESS 11 PRESENCE 10
DARING 11 INSIGHT 08 REASON 08
DISCIPLINES
COMMAND 01 SECURITY 02 SCIENCE -
CONN 02 ENGINEERING 01 MEDICINE -

STRESS: 13 RESISTANCE: 1
ATTACKS:
• Unarmed Strike (Melee, 3 CD, Knockdown, Size 1H, Non-lethal)
• D’ktahg Dagger (Melee, 3 CD, Vicious, Size 1H, Deadly, Hidden 1)
• Escala�on: Bat’leth (Melee, 5 CD, Vicious 1, Size 2H)
• Disruptor Pistol (Ranged, 5 CD, Vicious 1, Size 1H)
• Escala�on: Disruptor Rifle (Ranged, 6 CD, Vicious 1, Size 2H, Accurate)
SPECIAL RULES:
 • Brak’lul: A Klingon’s Resistance is increased by +2 against non-lethal atacks
• Warrior’s Spirit: When a Klingon atempts a Melee atack, and purchases 1 or more addi�onal dice with
Threat, the Klingon may re-roll any number of d20s.

Once the Klingons have been repelled, give the captain the following log to read:

CAPTAIN’S LOG: SUPPLEMENTAL. The crew of the El Dorado has repelled the Klingon intrusion and dispatched their
ships. It will take some time to repair the El Dorado but it should be manageable. More questions have emerged
from this engagement. What happened to the third Klingon ship, now powerless and flooded with tachyon
radiation? Why did the Takarans refuse to assist and why do they remain just within our ship’s sensor range?

A Reason + Science Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Science with a Difficulty of 2 allows the PCs to determine
that the prototype’s power source reacted with the Klingon ship’s cloaking system which caused a massive release
of tachyon radia�on from the prototype that affected the en�re Klingon ship.

A Reason + Science Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Science with a Difficulty of 1 provides the informa�on that
the transporter will be unable to penetrate the radia�on without enhancers.

A Reason + Medicine Task assisted by the ship’s Sensors + Science with a Difficulty of 1 reveals that the par�cle
concentra�on is so dense that even EV suits won’t protect someone for long.

The PCs will need to find a way to disperse the radia�on first, which can only be accomplished from the Klingon’s
ship. The away team will require a minimum of 4 members.

A Control + Conn Task assisted by the shutle’s Engines + Conn with a Difficulty of 1 gets the away team over the
Klingon ship.

Once aboard, the PCs find that there is no power, including lights, gravity, and life-support. Radia�on effects will
begin immediately. The PCs will need to locate either the bridge or engineering, restore power, and disperse the
radia�on as soon as possible.

As soon as the PCs board the bird-of-prey, read the following:

• Within moments, you begin to feel a tingle in your extremities.

In short �me increments, read the following:

• After ten minutes, tingling gives way to numbness and you begin to feel nausea. You begin to lose the
ability to hold and grasp things, like your tricorder.
• After fifteen minutes, you are unable to walk.
• After twenty minutes, you find yourself becoming delirious, unable to reason or think.
• After thirty minutes, you will be dead.

A Daring + Command Task with a Difficulty of 2 is required to maintain composure a�er the ten-minute mark.
Success means that the PC remains calm and Momentum can be spent to assist other characters, else the flee back
to the shutle.

Even with a success, a Fitness + Medicine Task with a Difficulty of 2 must be rolled on the next turn or another
Daring + Command Task with a Difficulty of 2 must be made. Each subsequent Failure makes the difficulty of the
next Daring roll one point higher.

Restoring power to a console requires finding the correct engineering console with a Reason + Engineering Task.
Transferring power from tricorders or phasers to the correct console requires a Reason + Engineering Task with a
Difficulty of 1.
There is only enough power in a single device to atempt to purge the tachyon radia�on from the ship once.
Control or Reason + Security with a Difficulty of 4 will allow the PCs to bypass the security protocols on the
console. Failing means the console is locked out and the PCs will need to locate another one of the four useful
consoles in engineering. For each console, another item must be sacrificed to power it.

The correct sequence of butons that will purge the environmental control systems requires a Reason +
Engineering Task with a Difficulty of 3. Complica�ons include accidentally ejec�ng the warp core, se�ng the auto-
destruct sequence, or powering the ship’s tac�cal systems.

Once the radia�on is dispersed into space, the prototype can be found in the nearby cargo bay with a Reason +
Security Task with a Difficulty of 1. Carrying the prototype requires 4 characters. A Fitness + Command Task with a
Difficulty of 1 gets it back to the shutlecra�. A Control + Conn Task with a Difficulty of 1 gets the PCs back to the El
Dorado.

ACT 3
SCENE 1
By the �me the away team members have returned to the bridge, three Romulan Warbirds decloak as the duty
officer calls for red alert. The PCs are surrounded. The Romulans hail, demanding the immediate return of their
stolen property or they will open fire and destroy the ship.

A Control + Command Task with a Difficulty 2 will give the captain �me to consult with the crew on a plan of
ac�on. The Romulans give the PCs a maximum of 5 minutes to comply. They know they’re viola�ng the Neutral
Zone treaty by crossing into Federa�on space unannounced.

D’DERIDEX-CLASS WARBIRD
TRAITS: Romulan Warbird
SYSTEMS
COMMS 09 ENGINES 10 STRUCTURE 11
COMPUTERS 10 SENSORS 10 WEAPONS 09
DEPARTMENTS
COMMAND 02 SECURITY 03 SCIENCE 02
CONN 02 ENGINEERING 03 MEDICINE 02

POWER: 10 SCALE: 6
SHIELDS: 14 RESISTANCE: 6
CREW: Talented (Atribute 10, Discipline 3)
ATTACKS:
• Disruptor Banks (Energy, Range Medium, 10 CD, Vicious 1)
• Plasma Torpedoes (Torpedo, Range Long, 6 CD, Persistent, Calibra�on)
• Tractor Beam (Strength 5)
SPECIAL RULES:
• Cloaking Devices (see pg. 259 of CRB)

COMMANDER TEBOK [NOTABLE NPC]

TRAITS: Romulan
VALUE: My Por�on is Obedience
ATTRIBUTES
CONTROL 10 FITNESS 09 PRESENCE 07
DARING 08 INSIGHT 10 REASON 10
DISCIPLINES
COMMAND 03 SECURITY 02 SCIENCE -
 CONN 01 ENGINEERING 02 MEDICINE 01

FOCUSES: Starship Tac�cs, Leadership

STRESS: 11 RESISTANCE: 0
ATTACKS:
• Unarmed Strike (Melee, 3 CD, Knockdown, Size 1H, Non-lethal)
• Dagger (Melee, 3 CD, Vicious, Size 1H, Deadly, Hidden 1)
• Disruptor Pistol (Ranged, 5 CD, Vicious 1, Size 1H)
• Escala�on: Disruptor Rifle (Ranged, 6 CD, Vicious 1, Size 2H, Accurate)
SPECIAL RULES:
• Ambush: When atacking an opponent who is unaware, Tebok may spend two Threat. This allows him
and any Romulans under his command to re-roll any number of d20s on their atack rolls for one round.

A�er the PCs formulate a course of ac�on, six Takaran fast-atack ships arrive at high warp. The Romulans arm their
weapons and target the PCs’ ship. Once hailed by the Romulans, they inform the PCs that their �me is up and again
demand the weapon that was stolen from them. They also suggest that the Takarans power down or face
repercussions.

Op�on 1: Take the High Road

Address the Romulan accusa�ons of the� and murder by the Takarans as well as the Federa�on’s need to keep the
balance of power from �pping over. Will need to sit down and discuss it.

A Presence + Command check or Reason or Insight + Security check will get the two sides to power down and talk.
An Insight + Security Task with a Difficulty of 3 will provide the PCs with the reason ass to why the Takaran military
wants to atack but the Takaran government disavows any knowledge of a the�. It also explains why Dr. Ja’Benn
appeared to be sabotaging his own program, or at least resis�ng Federa�on atempts at retrieving the stolen
torpedo.

Op�on 2: The Low Road

The PCs can destroy the prototype, aid the Takarans on an atack against the Romulans, or use threats,
in�mida�on, persuasion and subterfuge to force the Romulans to admit defeat and head back to their space.

Op�on 3: Submission
The PCs can acquiesce and turn the torpedo over to the Romulans at which point Dr. Ja’Brenn requests Federa�on
asylum from his government.

The PCs can damage or destroy the prototype and advise the Romulans that the damage occurred on the Klingon
ship. PCs can add that the Klingon cloaking device interfered with the power source of the prototype, created a
deadly flood of tachyon radia�on that killed the en�re Klingon crew, which their scans will corroborate. Dr. Ja’Brenn
will then request Federa�on asylum.

CONCLUSION
If the Romulans return to their space without the torpedo they will file a formal grievance against the Federa�on
and will name the PCs as directly involved.

If the Romulans are given the torpedo, the Takarans are incensed and mor�fied that their subterfuge was
discovered. They atempt to lay blame on a militant fac�on inside the government.