#badlands control

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 93591.13

We lost.

It was far from the most crippling defeat we've ever had--a few ships took heavy damage, but none were lost--but the Terran force was overwhelming and overwhelmingly powerful. They have weapons capabilities we've never seen before, and while we destroyed a number of their ships, there were others we could barely scratch.

They have their foothold, but we're going to study our readings of their techology, find ways to defend ourselves, and retake the Badlands.

First, though, our ships need their repairs.

[e-n-morwen]

Flag Officer’s Log, Supplemental, Stardate 93591.12

We have fallen back to a position around an asteroid roughly midway between the Terran forces' entry point and the nearest edge of the Badlands. Crews from the Bajoran Sector Fleet are busy setting up a high-end shield generator on the asteroid to create a relatively safe zone for our ships, and vessels from the 8th Tactical Fleet are distributing probes and monitoring satellites so we can watch the Terran fleet.

The Inverse has taken heavy damage to both phaser cannons and shield emitters. We'd be useless for further fighting, so we are falling back with the other most damaged vessels--the Shayera, Midna, and Bloom--to Deep Space Nine. We will seek repair as quickly as possible, and then return to the Badlands, to rejoin the rest of the fleet, which is remaining behind in case the Terrans start moving.

[e-n-morwen]

Flag Officer’s Log, Supplemental, Stardate 93591.10

It didn't stay quiet. The rift remained stable, but dozens of other rifts formed around us, and Terran ships emerged on all sides. We had them outnumbered, but many of the larger vessels had much more powerful weapons than in past encounters. We were unable to hold the line, and forced to fall back.

[e-n-morwen]

Flag Officer’s Log, Supplemental, Stardate 93591.09

We have reached the Badlands, and are now en route to the rift. So far it is quiet; hopefully we made it on time.

[e-n-morwen]

Flag Officer’s Log, Supplemental, Stardate 93591.02

We’ve arrived at Deep Space Nine, and just in time: long-range scans have picked up what may be a new dimensional rift in the Badlands.

The 53rd, Bajoran Sector Fleet, and 8th Tactical Fleet have assembled already. From here, we will proceed to the rift, to intercept the Terran attack we have reason to believe is imminent.

[e-n-morwen]

Flag Officer’s Log, Supplemental, Stardate 93588.56

I have received intel that Admiral Leeta of the Terran Empire is attempting to establish a base in our universe’s Badlands. Starfleet Command agrees with me that this cannot be permitted, and an assault force is gathering at Deep Space Nine, including the entirety of the 53rd.

The Inverse, Kaname, Nephilim, and Oracle were already headed back to Deep Space 16. Once they arrive, I will board the Inverse and we will proceed to Deep Space Nine, where I will lead the fleet into the Badlands.

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 93588.55

It’s been a quiet week here at DS16. The Kaname, Nephilim, Inverse, and Oracle have just returned from a tour of the Wake. Everything is quiet there, as indeed it seems to be everywhere else. In this universe, anyway, but that’s about to change.

I just received a message from the other me: Leeta's fleet has wiped out the Iconians, but somehow managed to contain the temporal disruption to a minimum. Her new plan, inspired by the Pah Wraiths, is to establish a foothold in our universe's Badlands, and use it as a base of operations from which to conquer the Terran Empire and plunge her universe into flames.

I have to tell Starfleet Command about this, we can’t allow the Terrans to establish bases in our universe! Both sides of their civil war would attack us!

[e-n-morwen]

Personal Log, Stardate 93561.65

What? Am I trying to bring my friends together into a personal mini-fleet within the larger one? Perish the thought! Why, next you’re going to suggest I’m secretly grooming Elisa to command that group under me...

After my rejection, my doppleganger has apparently decided to join forces with Leeta, at least according to the log files I just received. I guess if you can’t beat the coup, join it? Leeta’s forces now have temporal shielding as well future weapons, and she has deliberately retained the capacity to shut down the temporal shielding of her underlings' ships, so that any who betray her can be erased from the timeline.

Leeta’s log implies they plan to travel back to ancient Iconia and commit genocide with the temporal weapons, but also that the future travelers have kept the best weapons for themselves. Who could these mysterious benefactors be?

And, if Mirror Me has decided to join Leeta... then why is she still sending me these messages?