The people of Colbor III have been invited to join the Federation, and their government has called a referendum. Neal Zupancic returns to Continuing Mission — and to Colbor III — with The Colborian Referendum, the sequel to The Asylum Seeker.

Before a single vote can be counted, somebody has to decide who gets one. Colbor III is home to sentient artificial intelligences, and the question of whether AIs may vote — and under what circumstances — sits at the center of the campaign. Starfleet is asked to mediate between the government and the opposition, help defend and verify the integrity of the election, and then assist the Colborians in carrying out their decision, whatever it turns out to be.

The adventure does not hide its central dilemma: the AIs are likely to vote against joining the Federation. Does your crew defend the voting rights of sentient beings, knowing it may keep Colbor III out? Or argue the other side, and bring a new world into the Federation at a price?

Along the way, your officers will field questions that reach well beyond one planet. Are AIs truly autonomous, or do they multiply the power of their creators? How would officials even determine which AIs are sentient? Do exocomps vote? Does Data? The adventure suggests playing The Asylum Seeker first, and pairs well with “The Measure of a Man” and “Ad Astra Per Aspera.”

The adventure’s mission directives:

• Mediate the disagreements between the Regime and Opposition
• Observe the election and verify its validity
• Encourage the Colborians to join the Federation, where appropriate

Like its predecessor, the adventure is in draft form and Neal welcomes feedback from tables that run it.

Download The Colborian Referendum

More from Neal: ko-fi.com/nealzupancic, and his Substack at ninesides.substack.com.

Should a sentient AI’s vote count the same as anyone else’s on your table?