PROLOGUE
In the huge Universe of the Milky Way, there is a sector called Thissera-Micean Cooperative (TMC) Charter.
An oval shaped area, 25,000 light year wide are filled with thousands of solar system, all divided by sectors belonging to various race and empire, all operating under the rule of two distinct race; The Thissera (Reptilian race AU.p138) and the Micean (Mineral race AU.p129), hens the name of this charter.
The game will take place on a Cargo Ship.
The DCS-7
A huge Automated Cargo ship carrying 768 Cargo Crates model DCSC-01 to DCSC-28. With a powerful engine F100, the Cargo Ship would reach its destination in just about 2 years of travel. The trip could be shortened to roughly 3 months if the ship was to travel through all the known Space Ring Jumps along the way, but the ship is too big to fit through most rings, and it was designed to reduce the cost or travel; and saving on the taxes and fees relative to cargo, usually charged and calculated by Metric Ton value.
Due to the longer time involved for this trip, the reduced cost of 'staff' since the ship is Automated, the reduced cost of taxes and fees for the usual Ring jumps, and its humongous carrying capacity, many merchant corporation chose to send their goods along with this kind of ship that has begun to make its reputation. Without any Ring Jumps along the way, this also means that there would be no possible 'policing' of the goods during transit, also allowing for some cargo that would be illegal in a certain part of the trip, but not illegal in both its starting and ending locations. This also attracts criminal organisations into shipping 'stuff' in a Dreadnought.
In this particular time, the DCS-7 was sent on a 200 Light Year trip from No'Mat (Klingon Empire) to Unefra (Cardasian Union).
At least 1 of all the crates was actually transporting civilians who wanted a 'cheap' ride across the charter.
A POD trip usually worth about 200,000 credits for this kind of trip (or 500,000 for a WAKE trip), cost roughly 1/10th of this price.
A 2 years ride instead of 3 month, for a 10th of that usual price is a very good deal.
Your characters are among the passengers who had to travel to the Cardasian Union sector, not necessarily in Unefra, but once in the sector, travelling to the other nearby system is still a lot less expensive then a 500k trip.
You spent a little over 14 months in a comfortably designed living quarter with a bed, a small table, a sonic shower and a food dispenser.
Then the ship shook slightly, and stopped moving.
The protocol dictates that you are to stay and wait, although in case of an emergency, there is a flimsy space suit with basic life support and air for about 2 hours.
No big deal... you waited as instructed, but when the light went off and the food dispenser stopped working, there were reasons to start worrying.