Here Kitty Kitty (Veritas)
| USS Veritas | ||
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 INACTIVE STATUS | ||
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Setting: Donova IV is a Federation colony and a member of the Colonial Coalition, located in the Wuagyl Sector. Inaccessible from the Mother Road, Donova IV was once a mostly peaceful farming community until the last fifty years when the criminal elements of the world were finally able to take control of the local government. Nearly every institution from the police to the schools has some link back to the criminal underworld that truly rules the colony, including the Cobalt Clan, the largest and most powerful criminal organization (think of them being like the Andorian mafia) within the nearest two sectors. Those who've tried to reform the system over the years seem to suffer bad luck as unfortunate accidents and tragedies befall them. Yet surprisingly because of how well-run the government has become since the takeover, Donova has now established itself as one of the most idyllic worlds of the Colonial Coalition.
| Veritas Mission History |
|---|
| Year 1 (2393-2394) |
| The Forgotten Land · Rag and Bone · Aftershock · The Mother Road |
| Year 2 (2395) |
| The Irresistible Prize · Kallo Ver & The Hunt for the Lost Romulan Treasure Fleet · The Omega Paradox · Hope Lost · Flashpoint |
| Year 3 (2396) |
| Limbo · Dawn · Home · Sentinel · Play the Part · The First Colony · Tour de Ketar V · Charybdis · Lost and Found |
| Year 4 (2397) |
| E Pluribus Unum · Nadira · Free Flight · Pirates of the Quantum Realms · Forever and Always · Heartbeat · Home Is Where the Heart Is · Wandering Star |
| Year 5 (2398) |
| Here Kitty Kitty · Reunion · Chasing Shadows · Endeavour · Loopy · Fissure |
| Edit this Nav |
Here Kitty Kitty
- Date: January-February 2021 (stardate 239801-239802)
- Structure: Three acts lasting two weeks each
- Location: Donova IV
Mission Plot Summary
While the Battle of the Bands is underway on the idyllic farming community of Donova IV, the criminal organization known as the Cobalt Clan which runs the colony behind the scenes uses the musical event as a front for the illegal exotic animal trade.
Animal rights activist Maria Chicchoni is on a mission to put a stop to the trade, with her top nemesis being Gorgeous George, a rock star and showman who uses exotic animals, particularly big cats, in his shows. However, Chicchoni’s methods are even more ruthless than the cats she’s trying to save.
During the mission, the Veritas crew discover that the illegal trade is being conducted with communication devices known as “hexagons” that allow for long-range communication via an unknown intermediary between two parties. The issuer of a hexagon is at an advantage – they can permanently sever the link at any time, which makes tracing them impossible, by either the holder of the hexagon, or authorities.
Intended Genre/Themes/Moods
This is a light-hearted, high octane fun thrills mission. An outlet for humorous character expression with opportunities for subterfuge and exploring the criminal underworld of Donova IV.
Major inspiration also comes from one of the cultural hits of 2020: Tiger King.
Plot Questions
- Which band(s) is a front for the illegal distribution network?
- Where are the goods located and how does their operation work? (Animals hidden in musicians equipment and instrument cases?)
- Can the Veritas put together a band that rocks?
- How did the hexagon devices (just referred to as "hexagons") come to be invented?
- Who issues them, and how can they operate at long distances?
- What is the intermediary used for long distance communication? What is their range?
- How does their increased use lead to more smuggling without detection by authorities?
- What sort of criminal activities are they being used for?
- Who else uses them? (e.g. Orion syndicate, Tal Shiar, Felicium smugglers, Ferengi)
Plot Outline
TEASER
Sent January 11: https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-veritas/c/HbSKxybbnMU/m/Xzd2uO4fCQAJ
Animal rights activist Maria Chicchoni meets with an exotic animal trader to welcome the newest big cat into her collection. However, she also feeds the trader to her new Cakapunnual tiger for doing business with her nemesis, Gorgeous George.
ACT 1 - January 13 through 30
- “Soft opening” that begins with the service ribbons ceremony
- Vanlith coordinates outreach efforts to colony administrators to find out their needs
- Crew initially enjoys the spectacle and festivities of the Battle of the Bands as it begins
- Flynn leads the band from Veritas as they prepare for their own debut in act 2
- Our crew will also meet Gorgeous George and Maria Chicchoni
ACT 2 - January 31 through February 13
- Veritas band performs
- Tensions between George and Maria come to a boiling point. Something bad is going to happen in act 3, with Maria planning to put George out of the spotlight for good.
ACT 3 - February 14 through 28
- Gorgeous George’s show
- At some point $&@% hits the fan and maybe a tiger gets loose into the crowd or something
- Definitely an away team getting chased by one or two and/or having to help recover them/get them safely under control/restrained
MISSION FINALE will be sent on February 28
GUEST CHARACTERS/MSPNPCs
Gorgeous George
- Real Name: George Dalmanoda
- Species: Human
- Age: 37
- Played by: Antero Flynn
George was born on Donova IV in a large farming community. His parents believed in hard work and harder consequences for any child found slacking off. To his siblings, there was an expectation to grow into the future workers of the land and take over the family business. One of the few things George and his father had agreed on however, was that he was not cut out to carry on the same legacy.
While George was more suited to a lifestyle of music, romance and nightlife he left with an appreciation for country living and proudly carried many of those traits into adult life.
Out on his own, George quickly poured himself into his music and soon found himself touring. With his career as a musician growing he one day found himself in the home of a wealthy promoter and what he saw there changed his life forever. It was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen, a cat so large it could end a man with no more than a snap of it’s mighty jaws. The way it’s feline muscles tensed with power with every step as it paced menacingly. The way it’s golden mane shimmered as it bellowed out a powerful roar. A creature of such majesty and power that George knew immediately that he must have it.
That feeling of control over such a mighty champion fueled his confidence like nothing he had ever experienced. It didn’t take long for George to seek out new creatures and incorporate them into his shows. As their master he flaunted them to rising crowds, commanding such exotic beasts sent his fanbase soaring. He was certain that this was his destiny. George was determined to become a legend akin to a king.
Today George prepares for the annual Battle of the Bands taking place on his very homeworld. Originally organized by an Andorian by the name of Abossaon Th'shriqak. George and Abossaon became close friends quickly in spite of the man’s wife, Maria Chicchoni. The woman despised George for his practices involving rare animals. While George had no love for Maria and her constant attempts to hinder his practices, his feelings of loathing toward her were exacerbated when Abossaon went missing under mysterious circumstances. George is certain that Maria is responsible for the murder and has every intention of proving it.
Maria Chicchoni
- Mission’s Primary Antagonist
- Species: Human
- Age: 41
- Played by: Wil Ukinix
Born on Donova IV in 2357 to parents who had originally settled there from Earth for a “quieter life” to start a farm. When she was 22, Maria studied to become a veterinarian, and set up her own successful vet practice on her 30th birthday. Her practice became so successful that she eventually held semi-celebrity status and became known as “the animal whisperer” on Donova IV
In 2389 at a veterinarian conference she met the conference organiser, an Andorian named Abossaon Th'shriqak and they subsequently began a romantic relationship. They were married in 2394. Their marriage was going well until Abossaon set up a “Battle of the Bands” event for one of his clients, “Gorgeous George”, who was notorious for illegally keeping rare animals (which is not policed on Donova IV) and using them in his shows, which disgusted Maria. Abossaon kept organising the annual event for George and they became good friends. Maria and Abossaon’s relationship became strained as a result, and Maria moved back with her parents in the middle of 2396. In late 2396 while organising the annual Battle of the Bands event, Abossaon was declared missing. Many people on Donova IV suspect Maria was the culprit, although multiple investigations by authorities have shown no evidence of this.
Maria is well spoken, and is known for being polite. The disappearance of her husband has become a scandal and has tarnished her reputation in the eyes of many on the planet.
Riza Hass
- Gorgeous George’s assistant/romantic partner
- Species: Bajoran
- Age: 27
- Played by: Ensign Ikaia Wong
Riza Hass is the long suffering assistant to Gorgeous George. Originally, they started off as a social media influencer and aspiring musician specializing in acoustic guitar and soulful ballads. However, their career didn’t make as much headway as they hoped. However, they did attract the attention of Gorgeous George and was offered an opportunity. Riza leapt at it thinking their career in music might take off with George’s help. However, that has far been from being the case. Undervalued and underpaid, Riza has spent the past few years chasing around George and taking care of his more reasonable needs and handling technical details at all of George’s shows. Through gritted teeth and near perpetual irritation, Riza has served by George’s side. Although, they are grateful that George seems to be oblivious to their sarcasm.
When they’re not acting as George’s assistant, they can be found performing their music in some of the local cafes. Riza’s fashion sense is eclectic and has usually been seen wearing a pair of glasses sans lenses as part of their iconic look. Riza still aspires to be a musician one of these days. But right now, today is not that day and it doesn’t seem like tomorrow is it either.
Sokarn zh'Kuujn
- Cobalt Clan Mob Boss who runs the Battle of the Bands as a front for her illegal exotic animal trade/smuggling operation
- Species: Andorian
- Age: 32
- Played by: Commander Sky Blake
Sokarn zh'Kuujn is an Andorian zhen that runs the operations of the Cobalt Clan. Though uncharacteristic of someone of her criminal record, she initially led a bookish life as a record keeper for Donova IV's primary shipyard. Her intimate knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the shipyard made her the perfect candidate to provide the clan support for their smuggling initiative. Following her predecessor's retirement, zh'Kuujn won a vote by the clan to serve as it's new head.
zh'Kuujn is touted as being a fair but outspoken individual who isn't opposed to speaking her mind. Despite clearly being active in a criminal organisation, her ties with Donova's most respected organisations are based on mutual respect and equity where all parties benefit from a transaction. Members of the Cobalt Clan are not seen as typical Andorian buffoons, but as a high-class organisation with an undoubtedly shady business model consistently sponsoring local events and legitimate initiatives. It is perhaps for this reason why she has yet to be apprehended by the planet's law enforcement, nor are there many (if any) prosecutors waiting to take her down.
ANIMAL SMUGGLING
Possible list of animals
Local Shoals Animals
- Cakapunnual tiger (Shadow’s Edge)
Terran
- Tigers
- Armadillo
- Iguana
- Quokka (still classed as “Near Threatened”. Discovery of Quokka makes Wil Ukinix angry)
- Seagull
Non-Terran
- Extinct and endangered animals: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/New_Ground_(episode)
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Corvan_gilvo <= Protected, threatened species (Corvan II)
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Rigellian_hypnoid
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Pyrithian_bat
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Mordian_butterfly
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Lycosa_tarantula
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Bajoran_bat
- https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Glommer
PLOT ELEMENTS
Hexagon Devices (analogous to a “burner phone”)
Underground communication devices in the form of a green gem-like hexagon have become more prolific throughout the Shoals – and with their use, piracy and smuggling is on the rise. The device allows for long range communication via an unknown intermediary between two parties. The issuer of a hexagon is at an advantage – they can permanently sever the link at any time, which makes tracing them impossible, by either the holder of the hexagon, or authorities. Other than having possible Orion Syndicate origins, little is known by Starfleet about the hexagons.
(Note while the devices may have Orion Syndicate origins, the criminal organization we’re dealing with in this mission is the Cobalt Clan, which is a local Andorian-led group. This also hints at the eventual formation of the Emerald Chain in Discovery’s third season/32nd century, a powerful federation of mercantile exchanges originally formed out of an alliance of the Orions and the Andorians)
Cobalt Clan
Basically, an Andorian mafia that runs the colony (and runs it surprisingly well to the point that life is pretty good for the average citizen on Donova IV).