Just got reminded of an *old* story that'd make a lovely bit to
inflict on the PCs.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2004/2004-h/2004-h.htm

Thgis storyt is probably the origin of both the Martian flat cats in
Heinlein's "The Rolling Stones" and David Gerrold's "The Trouble with
Tribbles".

But the original is probably the best to steal.

PCs are carrying a cargo of some sort of animals, and there's a
dispute at customs about what category they fall into for import
duties. Or maybe even (as in the story) they've got a name that's
similar to something completely different and the customs folks want
to apply that rule.

If it's "just" exorbitant duties, that's bad as it could eat up
profits. It's worse if the other animal is prohibited.

Picture the PCs stuck because they can't deliver the cargo, but
(because of the legal mess) they can't just leave them either. And
the ASPCA/PETA equivalent won't let them be killed either.

So they have to sit there and keep taking care of them. And, of
course, they reproduce. A *lot*.

They could wind up hip deep in jackalopes or whatever.

Ooo! That'd actually be a good one. Somebody arguing that they fall
under the category of "jackals" (a scavenger/predator that's not
allowed) or that the "-alope" part of the name makes them game
animals like antelopes. With higher duties than the pet or farm
animal they actually "should" be considered.

And while all the arguing goes on, they are breeding like rabbits (or
even faster) and the antlers are a hazard  to the crew taking care of
them.

But I'm sure the Evil GMs here can come up with their own critters to
drive the players to distraction.

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com