The Duality Wars:

History Logs

Key: S = Session. Sty = Story. M = Mini. (more may be added with time)

Part I: Ebb and Flow

Arc Three:

Chapter 1: The Politics of Space

Verse 1, S.1: Session 61: The Old Races

9.24.5990 CE

The Aquarius is fully repaired, having been in service to the Erusian-Tsivrixsh Empire for the past three months. Using their new weapons, they've been battling side-by-side with them against the distortion, in return for their freedom. Only recently have they begun to get a it more slack.

The crew make shore leave at a former Cartel planet known for its vices and pleasures known as Jarivan, now overseen by the Empire. Little gambles at a casino, drunk, while Erica and her new officer Kre'trav simply try to relax, although Erica seems a bit distracted. Gor moves to help Little back to her room.

Kre'trav talks with Erica how things have gone, talking about how well the crew has performed, and now the jump gate is heavily guarded, but soon enough they will be allowed to pass, once they finished their work. They walk along, passing various places offering massages, mud baths, etc.

Suddenly, clouds begin to form, causing some concern from Kre'trav. Erica scans it for distortion, and unfortunately her worries are proven right. Meanwhile, Cookie keeps an eye on Little, while Gor and Airym walk along window-shopping.

Just as Erica sends the order to Return To Ship, Gor eyes an engagement ring, wishing to buy it for Kitty, while Airym notices a data shop. Everyone else returns to the ship except for them, as they attempt to quickly make their purchases. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Erica is powering up their new weapons.

Ry'lon and Kre'trav alike show some frustration with Erica hesitating to launch, waiting for Gor and Airym to return. Pretty soon, they return on a shuttle, although the distortion begins to hit. Lifting off, the Aquarius has some trouble due to the distortion, with lightning from the storm hitting their shields. They soon activate the weapons however, staving off the distortion long enough for reinforcements to appear and erect a barrier.

Kre'trav suggests that they return to the Erusian worlds and see what the military has to say, knowing that this world should have been safe from the distortion. Meanwhile, Computer Cam'dee announces that they have gained an additional crew member, and Denise speaks over comms, demanding to know what the fuck happened. Cam notes that Denise is recognizably a bit older than she was when she disappeared.

Erica shows shock, but also happiness, at the return of her old bartender. Denise reclaims her old room by force, and Saoirse carefully brings the Erusian girl who had been occupying it up to the bridge, where Cookie offers her old room to her. Saoirse encourages her, followed by Kre'trav, and this seems to help.

A few hours later, they arrive at the Erusian Worlds, landing on the surface. Erica and some of her officers move along with Kre'trav, brought before the Empress, Shretrav. Saoirse calls her a granny, and Shretrav remarks dryly about how Saoirse certainly has a way with words. Saoirse apologizes, in her own little way.

Shretrav speaks of the continuing problems and the work they have done. She expresses her worries that if things continue like this, the Aquarius may not make it to the jump gate before the distortions do. She will turn them loose soon, she says. She then asks Kre'trav to leave so that she may talk to the crew in private, as Erica expresses her wishes to return someday.

Shretrav speaks of how perhaps the Alpha Quadrant wasn't meant to be as it is in the first place, and that perhaps the distortion is merely returning it to its proper state. She states that maybe it would even be better to destroy the jump gate entirely after they have left. Either way, she urges them to take her granddaughter Kre'trav and others with them through the jump gate, and keep the races from this Alpha Quadrant alive. Meanwhile, she plans to head to Earth and detonate weaponry and equipment in a last-ditch effort to stop the issues.

Saoirse questions if she is suggesting to sacrifice the Quadrant, and Shretrav promises not to quit fighting until she can't fight anymore. She expresses skepticism toward Shretrav's solution to the problem, but Shretrav admits that it likely won't solve the issue, but it's all she can do. Saoirse speaks of warrior's honor, and asks whether it would be possible to copy the Aquarius' technology to get out of the Quadrant, but this is soon dismissed, as there is no time for that.

As Shretrav leaves, Saoirse debates with them about the issue, eventually accepting the impossibility of copying the Aquarius' technology, with some help from Little speaking about it more technically. However, she follows after Shretrav, telling Erica she'll be back later.

Shretrav speaks with her generals, planning her movements, when Saoirse interrupts, calling her granny again. Saoirse tells her she was overruled, but says she has one last request: She wants to go a round with her. When the Empress declines, Saoirse insults her honor as a warrior, then soon finds herself bashed across the room.

After an exchange of words about the attack, they begin to fight proper, Shretrav having a clear advantage over Saoirse. Meanwhile, Erica leads Kre'trav and the others back to the ship. Kitty stays behind, going to see what is going on and ultimately breaking up the match between Shretrav and Saoirse. Kitty speaks with them, and soon, she accepts an offer from the Empress to take the insult to her honor in Saoirse's place.

Verse 2, S.2: Session 62: Final Alpha Quadrant Mission

9.30.5990
With their time in the Alpha Quadrant coming to a close the Aquarius is on its final mission; investigating and assisting an agricultural planet that is suffering through an unnatural series of dust / sand storms that have been destroying crops. At least, this is the mission that Kre'trav knows about; the directives of her grand-mother the Empress Shre-tav are for the Aquarius to gather as many possible survivors onto the ship and prepare to evacuate through the Jump Gate once the signal is given. The planet is home to many races; Tsivrixsh, Cartel, Erusian, Aurit, Bunny People, and perhaps others.

Upon their arrival to the planet the Aquarius lands near a city and a number of the crew head out to gather information; Erica, Saoirse, Kre'trav, Ry’lon, Kitty, Gor, Airym, Kaylin and Cookie arrive at a local bar and begin their investigation by talking with several ill-tempered locals. It is soon learned that for the past month the planet has been suffering through severe dust storms, the dust having killed the vast majority of the crops. The planets population is surviving only on provisions that are brought in from other worlds, but they also seem to be stubbornly holding onto hope that the storms will cease just as suddenly as they began.

After scans accomplished by Gor, it is discovered that the soil of the planet is not from this world, it has been deposited here and the three to four day long storms that brew up every week are blowing it across the surface.

After Kre'trav and Ry’lon leave Kitty, Airym and Gor settle down to discuss plans for dealing with the storms; while Erica, Saoirse, Cookie and Kaylin continue on with the hidden portion of the Empress’s orders…to get refugees onto the Aquarius. After a short scuffle with some of the bars patrons and the crew they return to the ship, the unconscious patrons being brought along for medical treatment while Erica goes about the process of offering up the ship as a temporary lodging facility for any and all who wish to take advantage of it. Soon the ship is close to its full capacity as 400,000 refugees arrive, being assigned temporary lodging in the ship’s crew quarters and just about every other non-sensitive location.

It is at this time that an indicator on the bridge illuminates, the Empress’s signal has finally come; with Kaylin standing guard behind her Erica begrudgingly lays in the course for the Jump Gate, powering up the Spirit Drive and shaking loose the sand that had piled onto the ship. A stunned Kre'trav is dragged off of the bridge by Saoirse under the pretense of celebrating a bit and enjoying a couple of drinks as the Aquarius launches into Light Speed.

Verse 3, S.3 Session 63: 3 Months Ago - Aquarius

6.30.5990 CE

The Aquarius nears the meeting point they had given to Empress Shretrav during the conflict they had with her. As they near the Empress' massive ship, their warning system indicates 10 Erusian and Tsivrixsh ships jumping in behind them, preventing any chance of escape. They are then hailed.

The Empress demands that Captain Erica and her top officers come over to her ship for judgment. She acknowledges this without question and gives the order accordingly, heading to the transporter with her officers, although Saoirse especially looks very pissed-off.

Soon that in the Empress' chambers, and Shretrav explains that her generals had wished to destroy them if they showed up, which she considers dishonorable. Saoirse says something that could be taken as either a compliment or an insult, but either way, Shretrav speaks, demanding to know the reason the Aquarius has unleashed death upon them.

Erica begins to explain her mission, with regret for how things turned out. Unfortunately, Saoirse speaks rather brashly as well, regardless of her intentions, leading Shretrav to order the guards to take them away. The crew find themselves in a very durable brig cell.

Cookie starts to telepathically lash out at Erica about not keeping Saoirse under control, while Erica tries to be patient and wait for a chance to speak to the Empress properly. Meanwhile, Kre'trav goes to the Aquarius, beginning to speak to the crew.

Kitty greets Kre'trav, learning about the situation. They speak, with Kitty asking for a one-on-one meeting with the Empress. Kaylin analyzes the cell, testing for weakness, although Erica warns her not to do it. Kaylin stands down.

Airym tries to speak to the guards in their native tongues, speaking about Saoirse and apologizing for her. Kitty brings her cats along for her meeting to the Empress, and Kitty portrays herself as the ship's second-in-command toward the Empress. Kitty apologizes to her for what has happened and begins to inform her of the situation.

6.31.5990 CE

Airym and the guards joke back and forth until eventually Empress Shretrav appears, accompanied by Kre'trav and Kitty. She orders the crew released, and they are. Shretrav informs them about the agreement that has formed for the Aquarius to stay in the Alpha Quadrant to help them, perhaps ironically exactly as Saoirse was suggesting if but for her tone.

Shretrav informs them that the Aquarius is being repaired, and that her granddaughter Kre'trav will be journeying with them. Erica apologizes, and Shretrav offers room on her ship to allow the crew time to rest while the Aquarius is being repaired and upgraded.

Saoirse apologizes to Kre'trav for her being stuck with the Aquarius now, and tells her she'll get her set up with good quarters from one of their former officers lost along the way. Kre'trav bows to Erica, who agrees to treat her as well as she can, and in turn, Kre'trav expresses her relief that they are all okay.

Kitty apologizes to Erica for her ruse, and attempts to advise her, saying that she may be Captain, but that doesn't mean she always will be. She says to think long and hard if she doesn't want any dissent. Erica feels as though it sounds like a threat, and expresses such, but lets it pass for now.

7.24.5990 CE

After a month of fairly successful missions, the crew continue along. Erica explains again that she never meant for things to turn out as badly as they did, though she's glad it's going well. Saoirse then comes in, states that she's sure the place was nice before they inadvertently screwed it up, then announces her resignation, leaving just as suddenly, even as Kre'trav was about to suggest a party.

Kitty asks permission to take Cookie and Kre'trav to see Shretrav about a party, and Erica essentially lets them go with the equivilant of a handwave, rather thrown by Saoirse's sudden apparent resignation, even if she hopes it won't remain.

Later, on the Erusian homeworld, Kitty's group great the Empress and begin discussing the party with her, with Kre'trav suggesting that she wants to hold a party with a mix of Erusian heritage and that of the Aquarius. Shretrav agrees to help her prepare it.

A week passes, and soon the Aquarius is filled with people dancing to Erusian music and Kumen music alike, as well as a mix of food and drink from both cultures. Cookie finally seems to be cheering up a bit, and meanwhile, Lam'fee helps Spirit Cam'dee on the bridge.

Kre'trav tries to dance along with Kumen's music, getting the hang of it fairly easily, while Saoirse tries Erusian alcohol. Kre'trav eventually moves for the bar, imploring Saoirse not to quit, and telling her that neither of the two are happy like this. She offers to teach her diplomacy and anything else she can that could be of help, as Airym serves them drinks.

Verse 4, S.4 Session 64: The Jump Gate Crisis

10.3.5990 CE

The Aquarius continues flying using its Spirit Engine. Denise finally seems settled back in, and Kre'trav apologizes to Erica, telling her that she knows Empress Shretrav told her to do this. Erica replies that she's just doing the best she can for what she believes in.

Spirit Cam'dee addresses the Captain, telling her that she's been analyzing the previous run they made through the jump gate, and believe it possible to get their crew back, although it would mean transporting some of the Erusian crew in return. She notes that based on a few sets of evidence, there are Erusians in the other world, after all. Erica seems glad at the sense of hope, but declines, not wishing to do that to the new crew.

They begin to enter the jump gate, and once they are speeding along, a flash of energy suddenly comes from within the Aquarius, knocking everyone out. When they awake, the ship is at a standstill, their terminals seeming to be scrambled by a power energy blast. Cam explains that they were hit by a pulse and stopped within the stream.

Spirit Cam'dee suggests that she could fix things and get them moving if she were able to move further. Erica asks Cam'dee if she is okay, then expresses that she's wanted to free her from that spot for some time. Cam'dee gives instructions of black boxes to destroy, and Erica sends them along to Gor, asking him to use his best judgment.

Gor elects to do it, while Kre'trav leads Erica off to the side and advises her privately, seemingly concerned that it's a ruse by the spirit. Erica acknowledges her concerns, but she ultimately elects to continue as planned. She returns to the bridge, disabling the box there with Gor's help, as Gor works on the boxes down below.

Gor eventually works his way down to the box in the core, which is greased and has a fake spider on it. He manages to remove it as well, although he's almost sent falling from the grease that had been applied. Spirit Cam'dee is finally freed. She destroys the pad she had been trapped on, laughing, and then the ship begins to return to its normal, non-spirit mode.

Faced with quickly depleting shields and a clearly uninterested spirit, Erica orders Kitty to supply energy to help power the ship. Cam'dee shows skepticism toward Erica, suggesting that she only helped her because she was forced to, and that it hadn't been a priority before. Erica counters with evidence of her intentions, however, and Cam'dee also heads down, powering up the ship.

Gor checks on the Computer Cam, but there's no trace of her. He's quickly ordered to go down to Engineering and find ways to boost energy output further without straining Cam'dee, however. Kitty is sent to look for others who might be able to supply energy output like she herself can. Cookie is ordered to keep an eye on the crew and its mental state, as well as looking out for Cam'dee and making sure she's okay.

Erica takes the pilot seat as she oversees things from the bridge, while Kitty manages to find Aurit and special Erusians who can donate their energy. Saoirse heads to see Cam'dee. A distortion seems to pass them in the stream eventually, slowing time around them. Erica considers this, asking Kre'trav if the weapons could help, but soon she discards the idea. Erica shows confidence that they can make it through regardless.

Five hours later, Cam'dee begins to fade, while Saoirse continues to talk to her about her grudge on the ship. Cam'dee mumbles about Gor being stupid, while Erica relieves her and has Kitty's and the Aurits take over. Erica also has them bring spirit fossils and use them to help her, with some level of success, but only limited.

Kre'trav brings Cam'dee to the bridge and hooks her up to the terminals, which seems to recharge her. Kitty and Gor begin to weaken, even as the ship nearly reaches their destination. They make it, however, with Erica closing the gate behind the Aquarius without much trouble. They have finally returned, albeit a fair distance from Kumen, near the gas giants. Kre'trav sends out a distress call.

An hour later, with the Aquarius system rebooting, the senior officers meet and discuss their worries about what could be waiting for them when they reach Kumen. It's not long, however, before Kre'trav calls out telling them that a shuttle is requesting permission to land, flown by a maid. This gets the original crew's attention, but more than that, Kitty seems to recognize her from that alone.

In the hangar, Kitty greets the maid, addressing her as Sen. Sen stands in surprise, not having expected to see Kitty, while Erica simply looks on in confusion at the fact that Sen and Kitty know each other. Erica begins to give her report, causing more seriousness out of Sen. On the bridge, Cookie explains to Cam'dee that they've realized Cam'dee needs the ship to live.

Erica requests safety for the refugees and her new crew, cats included. Sen tells them that she intercepted them because things are changing on Kumen. She says that the President wishes to speak to them, and that they will figure out what to do with so many people. She boards a shuttle, and Erica follows suit with many of her officers. Soon they are on their way to Kumen, with the Aquarius to be escorted along later.