New Frontiers Priority Tasks

Priority Tasks are non-unique Mission Briefings which do not specify unique locations, are independent from existing AORs, and can be undertaken by several ships independently, or in the form of a joined mission.

While they are less developed than AOR briefings, these story prompts provide details and guidance beyond the main campaign briefing.

Mapping the Frontier

The Shackleton Expanse remains largely uncharted, and its natural phenomena are only scarcely documented. After years of patrols through well-mapped space, this presents a rare opportunity to rekindle Starfleet’s spirit of exploration.

For the scientific community, the expanse represents an irresistible opportunity as the environmental and astrophysical phenomena that developed under the influence of the Shroud offer entirely new avenues of study and invites a sense of friendly - and occasionally not-so-friendly - competition among research crews.

Your ship has been dispatched on a survey mission into the Shackleton Expanse to explore a system or phenomenon.

Key Points

This mission can be undertaken by multiple members completely independent from each other, or collaboratively in the form of a joined mission.

This is a good mission for smaller ships and less-powerful scientific vessels who venture into unexplored regions and can quickly disengage should conflict arise

Whether you map out a nebula or assess a stellar phenomena is up to you. Even the discovery of non-humanoid lifeforms is entirely possible.

There is no reason this storyline has to be scientific only - uncharted does not mean unclaimed, and yours might not be the only vessel interested in this specific phenomena.

In addition, this briefing can be used as a story hook. Other ships, such as a Task Force Asset, might have been dispatched to explore the region and find themselves in need of your help.

Very First Contact

The removal of the Shroud has caused significant changes for many native species across the expanse. Technology that was deemed faulty or insufficient now works, or is being developed in response to the plethora of new opportunities.

Your ship, originally dispatched to chart a star system, detects an unexpected subspace signature emanating from a pre-warp planet. This emission is unmistakably the product of a matter/antimatter reaction, and sufficient to propel a small craft faster than light.

Contact protocols are in place, and your crew will very likely be the first alien lifeform this civilization meets.

Key Points

This mission can be undertaken by multiple members completely independent from each other

This is a good mission for ships of any kind, and for writers who choose to remain flexible in their writing. A prompt like this can be a single short story, an entire mission including the creation of an entirely new species, or everything in between.

How the native civilization reacts is entirely up to you, as is the approach you take to introduce Starfleet.

Ill Intentions

Starfleet isn’t the only power drawn to this newly accessible region of space. Both the Romulan Republic and a number of Klingon houses supportive of the Empire’s alliance with the Federation are pursuing the same goal of exploration within the expanse.

That, however, does not mean that all ventures into the expanse are benign in nature. The Romulan Free State’s operations remain undisclosed, and Klingon Houses aligned with Chancellor Toral’s vision have entered the region with their own motives.

Consequently, territorial claims and resource competition have the potential to place visiting vessels in complex diplomatic situations.

Your ship is assigned to patrol and study a sector of space whose strategic and scientific potential may attract more than just allies.

Key Points

This mission can be undertaken by multiple members completely independent from each other, or collaboratively in the form of a joined mission

This is a good mission for ships that can defend themselves, and are not reliant on readily available backup.

The reason for any altercation is up to you, as are the participants. This might be everything between a simple misunderstanding and an attempt to claim a resource-rich planet.

While a peaceful resolution is always preferred in an IC context, this briefing gives ample opportunity for action oriented storytelling.

Journeys Across Borders

With migration between different star systems within the Shackleton Expanse largely impossible, civilizations bound to less-than-ideal conditions have been forced to remain. Now, with the removal of the Shroud and the arrival of outsiders, travel is suddenly possible.

The journeys are undertaken with several end goals in mind - some set out to find a new home within the expanse, either through exploration, negotiation, or conquest. Others wish to establish trade routes with neighboring species. Others, again, have already interacted with Starfleet and decided that Federation space is better than remaining within the expanse.

Not all vessels making their journey are up to the task, and some may find themselves in dire need of help. As you patrol an otherwise quiet region of the Shackleton Expanse, your vessel encounters such a ship.

This mission can be undertaken by multiple members completely independent from each other.

This is a good mission for smaller ships that aren’t the first, or the second, choice to be sent out to explore strange new worlds.

The other ship's reason for traversing the expanse, as well as their destination, is up to you. As is the resolution.