Game Idea 11-10-2005
The Jufa Gambit -
Once upon a time there was a polyglot colony called Aferua 4 - its inhabitants were Andorian, Orion and Tellarite, with a large smattering of others. There was a solidly Andorian flavor to the place.
Nearby there was another colony called Yatr Seitus. It was a simlar colony with Andorian, Orion, and Tellarite colonists - as well as a solid smattering of other folks. Yatr Seitus, however was more solidly Tellarite in nature.
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In between the two planets - almost dead between - them is a small, white remnant of a star called Orab Theta. Formerly a yellow dwarf star it bloated to red giant and baked it's system to crispy chunks
But these crispy chunks were rich in heavy elements, making them prime asteroid mining territory.
In the 2130s and 2140s Aferua 4 and Yatr Seitus set up mining operations at Orab Theta.
They spatted constantly over mineral, exploitation and shipping rights - even fighting two short inconclusive wars over them.
It is interesting to note that Andorian and Tellarite residents of Aferua 4
stand shoulder to shoulder with each other in Opposition to their hated rivals
on Yatr Seitus. And the same condition holds on Yatr Seitus with regard to Aferua
4.
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Fifteen years ago an Andorian named Jufa was elected president of Aferua 4. He was a glad handing, baby kissing, campaigning machine. He has a particular talent for socially bonding and interacting with people.
Most anyone meeting with Jufa comes away with the impression that they have just made a new best friend. It is said he could sell sunshine on Vulcan.
He went from a small time political operative and flunky to the president of the colony in a large hurry. Vetran political analysts on Aferua 4 were dizzied by his rise.
Jufa was wildly popular among the people of Aferua 4.
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Six years ago, the wheels came off of the Jufa administration. Jufa was discovered to be hopelessly corrupt and venal, selling influence like used air cars. He was shameless and had actually opened talks with Ferengi concerns about selling sponsorhips and advertising space on the Aferua 4 Defense Force ships.
(The Starship Sluggo Cola Defender!)
It was hugely embarassing scandal on Aferua 4. the political class quickly indicted, prosecuted and convicted most the Jufa Administration and just missed arresting Jufa as he escaped the planet.
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Recently Aferua 4 and Yatr Seitus have been engaged in another dispute about the Orab Theta System
Both sides were ratcheting up the tension, rattling sabers and being obdurate in negotations.
Each side knows eventually the situation will be negotiated by the Federation - each side is trying it's level best to wedge things into the most favorable possible condition for itself shy of an actual shooting war.
The problem with this is that one mistake or a misguided patriot in the wrong place could light off an actual war.
So the Federation has assigned a commissioner to the situation to try and achieve a negotiated solution before the situation gets out of hand.
The governments of Aferua 4 and Yatr Seitus are playing high stakes poker - neither one wants to be the first to give up a point.
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Into this mess comes Jufa - He has announced that he is running again for President of Aferua 4.
Jufa has been spotted here and there, living large on embezzeled wealth and staying one step ahead of the law.
Jufa appeared on Yatr Seitus. He probably thought that the conflict between Aferua 4 and Yatr Seitus would lend him some cover. Yatr Seitus is noted for having difficult and tortuous extradition laws.
Apparently Jufa thought he could set himself up as a legitimate candidate in exile on Yatr Seitus.
Jufa calculated wrongly. The authorities on Yatr Seitus arrested him as soon
as they realized who he was (Embarrassingly, right after his news conference
announcing his candidacy.)
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Having Jufa in their legal system is a serious embarassment to Yatr Seitus - they want him out.
Aferua 4 wants him off Yatr Seitus as well, but the government of Aferua 4 doesn't want him anywhere near them.
One of the places where Jufa sought temporary refuge was Andor itself - where interstellar arrest warrants are not enforced as heavily as they might be when the subject is Andorian.
But Andor wants nothing to do with the guy.
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The PCs ship is summoned to Yatr Seitus to take Federation custody of Jufa... and to do... something.
The PCs ship will be met by the Defense forces of Yatr Seitus (mostly armed with Old Starfleet type vessels, lovingly maintained and upgraded.) probably to ensure that Jufa is taken safely away
At some point the PCs ship will also be escorted by the Aferua 4 Defense force (Similar make up) which may be there to ensure that Jufa isn't taken to Aferua 4 - or they may be ready to stage some sort of populist coup and take Jufa back to Aferua 4 to run for president. No one is sure.
Despite the amazing corruption scandal (noted for it's brazeness and openess) The population of Aferua 4 generally recalls Jufa fondly. He has a solid base of political support. The Majority of Aferua 4 citizens think Jufa has worn out his political welcome, but they don't support an aggressive prosecution.
The Population of Aferua 4 sees their political class as insular, cut off, non responsive, arrogant and greedy. The common feeling is that many of Jufa's co-conspirators were never discovered or named openly and still remain in power.
Whether this is true or not It spells trouble for the current administration
of Aferua 4. They are only a few PR missteps from provoking their population
to stage a popular recall of Jufa.
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Even more Amusingly - Unknown to many, Jufa was in bed with an Orion Cartel, to the point of borrowing heavily from them and offering them influence on Aferua 4 in payment.
Jufa's movements and escapes from Federation Marshalls are partially due to his relationship with the Orion Underworld
If Jufa is taken into Starfleet Custody - the Orions know that he's only a short distance from completely rolling over on them. He's good at making friends, and will do so among Starfleet.
So there's only one Solution - Jufa has to be silenced before he gives up what
he knows. A team of talented and professional infiltrators and killers could
be anywhere in this process gunning for Jufa.
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The PCs job - invent a solution for Jufa and implement it while avoiding Assassins, mistakes that could launch the first shooting war between Federation Planets ever, and making the scandal any worse than it is.
Good luck, Jim.
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Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this material for me.