Star Trek: Loaded Deck
AO: Starting Line
When: 2025-07-05
QIC: Janeway
PAX (9): Ace Ventura, Beanz, Better Call Saul, DDoS, Fish Fingers, Janeway, Script Kiddie, Seaman, Sp1tValv3
Preamble:
As the Voyager prepares to boldly go to the outer rim of the GA quadrant, with no dilithium in the warp core but one-half impulse power at the helm, I uploaded from my captain's log a BD which I developed stardate 06.25.2023 but which had never been deployed. Today's BD was literally a BD (and card game) two years in the making. Admittedly, I developed this BD in 2023 with one purpose: it was a massive plot to surrepticiously slap the Star Trek: Loaded Deck "Darmok" card on Script Kiddie when he least expected it in retrobution for the notorius Darmok Incident. Shaka, when the falls fell. But time changes things and as I prepped ST: Loaded Deck this week for its debut, my motivation was one of simply seeing the crew get the BD they wanted (or not) hopefully with a little fun and humor along the way. Temba, his arms wide.Warm-O-Rama:
The crew was briefed on game play dynamics: Red card = Exercise. Read the card and do what it says. Yellow card = Penalty. Read the card and slap the penalty on the PAX of your choosing. Blue card = Special Order. Play out of turn anytime to countermand the previous card which was just played. For the sake of time, we played a somewhat shortened version of ST: Loaded Deck, with fewer cards and rules/game dynamics than in the original version; so instead of full randomization and drawing cards, cards were pre-dealt to each PAX (this also allowed the Q to truly "load" the deck).The Thang:
While I'd "self-played" scenarios with the deck a few times, today was really the first Beta test. Gameplay seemed to go reasonably well. There was plenty of exercise to which PAX could rise to meet at the level of their ability; PAX were reasonably empowered to lead the execution of the cards they played; there was plenty of mumblechatter; and there were a number of instances of frivolity. Perhaps the more "fascinating" cards to be played were: Code Red! Medical Bay CPR All PAX perform 20 Diamond Merkins, announcing, "He's dead, Jim." after the 20th Merkin. Mirror Universe All PAX execute 15 burpees, exclaiming "I love burpees!" after each; except Script Kiddie, who exclaims "I hate burpees!" after each (Script Kiddie, true to character, found a way to modify his exclamation and defy orders). Agony Booth All PAX air chair two minutes and must heckle and goad all other PAX as they suffer in the Agony Booth. Deanna Troi The ship's counselor feels the PAX have been working out too hard; all PAX close their eyes for 1 minute of deep breathing. (If I recall, Script Kiddie played a Special Order card which canceled the Counselor's directive.) Despite loading the deck, the Darmok! card (Penalty: give this card to any PAX who must remain silent until another PAX says Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra; if the PAX holding this card makes a sound, he must execute a 15 burpee penalty) was given not to Script Kiddie but to Ace Ventura, who was able to remain silent for approximately 3.1 seconds before accepting his penalty. By the end of the BD, all seemed ready for shore leave, so mission accomplished: Fitness and Fellowship had by all... followed by a little Faith in the COT. Today's background music: Star Trek: Reboot (2009) Opening Theme Star Trek: Voyager Theme (Techno Dance Version) Star Trek II: Battle in the Mutara Nebula Star Trek II: Main Theme Klingon Theme Klingon Style (parody of Gangnam Style) What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) - Information Society featuring Spock and Bones Sound of Silence - Disturbed (because Script Kiddie finds silence disturbing during F3) Rocket Man Remix (I really missed an opp: should have played Shatner's spoken rendition) Star Trek: Enterprise Theme (Where My Heart Will Take Me) There were many easter eggs in the cards and in the lyrics of the tunes, but the crew was so focused on executing the captain's orders that many of these subtlties were rightly missed.COT:
Prayers with coffee, black afterward... just like Janeway likes it.Naked-Man Moleskin:
I can't say that I'm at the place described in the lyrics of the Star Trek: Enterprise Theme, but I can say the men of F3 have encouraged my Faith... and I do hope to be in an even better place and able to visit upon occassion if/when the shuttlecraft heads towards the Starting Line AO. Thank you, men. I leave you with the lyrics of this theme... Janeway out.It's been a long road, getting from there to hereIt's been a long time, but my time is finally nearAnd I can feel a change in the wind right now, nothing's in my wayAnd they're not gonna hold me down no more, no, they're not gonna change my mind
'Cause I've got faith of the heart, I'm going where my heart will take meI've got faith to believe I can do anythingI've got strength of the soul and no one's gonna bend or break meI can reach any starI've got faith, I've got faith, faith of the heart
It's been a long night, trying to find my wayBeen through the darkness, now, I finally have my dayAnd I will see my dream come alive at last, I will touch the skyAnd they're not gonna hold me down no more, no, they're not gonna change my mind
'Cause I've got faith of the heart, I'm going where my heart will take meI've got faith to believe I can do anythingI've got strength of the soul and no one's gonna bend or break meI can reach any starI've got faith, I've got faith, faith of the heart