Language Lessons

At the time of the Star Trek: Traveller campaign, the fledgling United Federation of Planets claims a volume of space roughly 15 light years in diameter. In addition to the charter worlds of Terra (Sol), Vulcan (Epsilon Eridani), Tellar (61 Cygni), and Andor (Epsilon Indi), thriving colonies exist on worlds orbiting Alpha Centauri, Sirius, Procyon, and Tau Ceti. Further, more than a dozen other systems host outposts or lesser facilities. That being said, however, many of the 40 or so star systems in this area remain unvisited. The mission of USS Diomedes is to chart these systems and contribute to creation of a detailed planetary survey.

One of the first stops on her journey is V577 Monoceri, a class M4.5 V star some 14.5 light years from Sol. Much to the surprise of the planetary sciences teams, the system was found to have a class-M planet orbiting near the outer limit of its ecosphere. Even more unexpected was the discovery of a Neolithic civilization (TL-0) scattered across the planet's surface. The natives are massive creatures apparently descended from Scavenger/Intimidator stock.

While survey teams fan out across the planet, Commander Klara Richter (the ship's Poitical Officer) attempts to make contact with the natives. Back aboard Diomedes, her efforts are watched with a mixture of fascination, curiosity, and amusement - largely because the language of these massive sophonts seems to be a combination of burps, belches, and bellows. Throughout the crew, wagers are taken as to how long it will be before the natives grow tired of this new game and try to eat Commander Richter.

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For those who don't know, I'm a gamer from way back. Star Trek: Traveller is my vision of a Star Trek universe fused with the classic Traveller science fiction role-playing game. I claim no rights to either the Star Trek of Traveller franchises. But this would be the campaign I created if given those rights. You can think of it as my version of Star Trek: Enterprise if you like.

For those who want to pick nits, I should point out that my effort is to create a universe that feels like both Star Trek and Traveller. To that end, I put flavor and plausibility (IMHO) over established canon. For example, I place Vulcan around Epsilon Eridani instead of 40 Eridani because I want Vulcan to be the first extrasolar civilization mankind encounters. Thus, it needs to be a little closer. This also means some of my earlier Star Trek: Traveller works (featuring the Declaration class ship) are now debunked. Think of them as pilot episodes, if you will.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!