Act 1: Approaching the Asteroid (Ship)

This 30 x 20 x 18 yd3 asteroid is actually a Jindarian asteroid ship that has been co-opted by Orion Pirates from a naive Jindarian looking for adventure. The Jindarian, now seeking his freedom, has a plan in place--neutrino communications--to surreptitiously attract attention should any potential liberators enter the Terilek system. The Orions are in the Terilek system to keep an eye on an M-class planet--Terilek Prime--which they use as a safe house to store various contraband: Kirian Redbloom (illegal), Estallian Fireweed (illegal on Rigel), Stinker Bug Pearls (poached), weapons, tool (including medical) kits, rations... This is why the Orion Pirates don't simply leave the system when the Feds arrive.

Scene 1: Team Detects Neutrino Pulses

Setting: Flying around the Terilek System in a class F shuttlecraft, doing a routine system survey. The Orions are aware of the Federation's arrival and are playing a wait and see game; they're confident their Jindarian asteroid ship will escape detection--the mian reason they wanted one. The former owner of the asteroid-ship, a disenchanted Jindarian, will attempt to surreptitiously contact the PCs in an effort to enlist their aid against the Orions.

Activities:

E Op (Sensors-Scan) of asteroids
allows for follow-up rolls
Geology (or IQ-6)
Asteroids have a low resource value.
Prospecting (or Geology-4 or IQ-5)
These asteroids have already been mined out.
E Op (Sensors-Radscan) and after being in the system d20 hours
allows a Physics follow-up.
Physics (or IQ-6)
occasional neutrino pulses in the area. Neutrinos imply nuclear energy. Pulses imply artificial.
neutrino "ping(s)" detected. Try another E Op (Sensors-Radscan) at no penalty.

Success: They have an anomaly to investigate.

Failure: The Jindarian will try a more desperate means of getting their attention, but at the cost of attracting the attention of his Orion captors.

Scene 2: Analyzing Neutrino Pulses

Setting: Flying around the Terilek System in a shuttlecraft, trying to figure out what's up with these strange neutrino pulses.

Activities:

Navigation (Space or Hyperspace-5)
Can triangulate to the source of the neutrino pulses after another successful E Op (Sensors-Radscan).
Cryptography, Math (Cryptology)-5, Math (any other)-10 by -10 (Jindarian wants it broken)
There is a pattern to the timing. Allows an Area Knowledge (Terilek System) follow-up.
Area Knowledge (Terilek System)
The timing of the pulses are a code that define the location of the main bodies of the Terilek System, then coordinates to a location in its asteroid belt.

Success: The team knows where the neutrino pulses are coming from.

Failure: The Jindarian will try a more desperate means of getting their attention, but at the cost of attracting the attention of his Orion captors.

Scene 3: Moving Towards the Coordinates

Setting: In a shuttlecraft in the Terilek System, moving into its asteroid belt. As soon as they being overtly moving in the direction of the coordinates/neutrino pulses, they will receive a proper neutrino audio-only burst communication warning caution. If the shuttle does not wait for the Jindarian's signal, the Orions will likely become aware of their approach.

Activities:

Piloting (High Performance Spacecraft) by -10)
Course changed. This will trigger a proper neutrino audio-only burst communication from the Jindarian.
E Op (Electronic Warfare or Communications-4)
Neutrino communications are directional and nearly impossible to intercept [UT45]. Jindarian [(Romanian) accent]: Do not approach. Do not scan this asteroid. Do not communicate with anyone. Wait for my signal.If the team continues their approach, this message will be resent.
E Op (Electronic Warfare or Communications-4)+5 d20 hours later
Approach from sun-ward. Do not scan this asteroid. Do not communicate with anyone.
E Op (Media or any other-4) and 2+ messages received
The repeated phrases are identical
Tactics
A sun-ward approach will provide the shuttle the best cover.
Navigation (Space or Hyperspace-5)
Plot a course to approach the coordinates from its sun-ward side.
Piloting (High Performance Spacecraft) vs 5 (Jindarian has disrupted security systems)
Pilot shuttle stealthily toward asteroid.

Success: The team arrives at the asteroid without alerting the Orions. Proceed to Act 2: Jindarian Welcome

Failure: The team arrives at the asteroid, but have alerted the Orions. Proceed to Act 3: Orion Welcome

Scene 4: Analyzing the Asteroid

Setting: In a shuttle in the Terilek System, moving into its asteroid belt towards the coordinates/neutrino pulses. They have probably been warned not to scan or communicate with anyone. If they decide to ignore this waring, the Orions will be aware of their approach, but they may gain some interesting information about the asteroid.

Activities:

E Op (Electronic Warfare) vs E Op (Security)
To avoid setting off alarms.
E Op (Electronic Warfare or Sensors-4 or Science-4)
Passive modes should not trigger any security systems.
E Op (Sensors-Radscan)
Will provide range and bearing of an object at the coordinates given by coded neutrino pulses/triangulation. Allows an Astronomy follow-up.
Astronomy
The asteroid is not rotating; this is unusual.
E Op (Sensors-Scan) vs E Op (Electronic Warfare) fails
Allows follow-up rolls to Chemistry and Geology.
Chemistry and airlock recently opened
asteroid is outgassing
Geology-5
The readings are rather homogeneous .
E Op (Sensors-Scan) vs E Op (Electronic Warfare) succeeds
Floor plan of a 30 x 20 x 18 yd3 asteroid ship.
E Op (Sensors-Bioscan) vs E Op (Electronic Warfare)
0: 6 strong bio signs and their general location. See Map.
+3: and some lower bio "fuzz" and their general location. See Map.
0: 4+1/1/1 different bio signs, bio "fuzz" are multiple low level signals.
Physiology for each type of biosign
+5: 4+1 are Orions
+5: 1 is Klingon
+15: 1 is Jindarian
+15: "fuzz" things have a very low metabolic rate.

Success: The team arrives at the asteroid without alerting the Orions and may even have some knowledge regarding the asteroid ship. Proceed to Act 7: Terilek Prime

Failure: The team arrives at the asteroid, but have alerted the Orions. Proceed to Act 3: Orion Welcome

Scene 5: Disengaging and Calling Home

Setting: For whatever reason, the PCs have decided to move away from the asteroid (ship). The Orions will neither prevent nor pursue if they believe their safe-house is secure. The Orions are are monitoring the shuttle and its communications. If the Orions believe they have been compromised--a communication mentions the safe-house, a coded communication is sent or received, the PCs give the Orions the slip--then the Orions have an extraction plan. They will try to shake the PCs using ECM: they'll warp away, then warp back to Terilek Prime; then they scrub their safe-house: send Pebble down to the hide-out. See Act 7: Terilek Prime. They will avoid the unwanted attention of killing Starfleet officers as long as their safe-house and contraband (esp. bio-mimetic gel) is secure.

Activities:

Piloting (High Performance Spacecraft) by -10)
Course changed to disengage. If the Orions are still unaware, this may trigger a neutrino audio-only burst communication from the Jindarian. If the Orions are aware, this may trigger their extraction plan.
E Op (Communications) with E Op (Electronic Warfare) cap vs E Op (Security)
<0: Orions know the content of the message, unless it's coded; in which case they will assume the worst.
0+: They get a message off to the USS Yorktown. If the Yorktown replies, the Orions will get a chance to intercept that.
E Op (Sensors-Search)
The best way to keep an eye on the asteroid ship if/when it decides to sneak away and back.

Success: The team is out of immediate danger. The Jindarian may risk further contact. The Orions may invoke their extraction plan.

Failure: The Orions may use a tractor beam to hold the shuttlecraft in place and jam any further communications.