#icedqoffee

Catalog number: 4778MN9Q0-1

Object: Tritanite crystal holophoto, 10 x 12.5 cm, El-Aurian

Date: circa 02100

Collection: El-Aurian Historical Preservation Project, Elneth II, Nova Kron

A holophoto given to guests at El-Aurian marriage ceremonies. Guinan (active), child of prominent Ekkeminal politicans Niam (deceased) and Haggad (deceased), stands on the left. The figure on the right has been identified as a member of the Q. Text at bottom of frame reads “Happy Tidings”.

See also: Q (species); El-Aurian Schism

El-Aurian Schism

The El-Aurian schism (□□□□ or Lost Autumn) was a period of social unrest lasting from about 02150 until the destruction of Aria, the El-Aurian homeworld, by the Borg on 20338.9. A partially omnipotent species, the El-Aurians became aware of the destruction of their planet decades in advance¹. Two ideological factions emerged: a traditionalist group who believed the age of the El-Aurian people was coming to its end and considered the Borg attack part of an inevitable cycle of life and death, and a revolutionary group who rejected what they saw as needless fatalism and advocated the El-Aurians survive the attack by transcending corporeality. In 20279, unable to reach consensus, an estimated 16 million El-Aurians achieved transcendence and formed the collective species Q². The loss of approximately 17% of the planet’s population caused widespread infrastructure collapse and triggered The Great Sitting³. On 20228.9, Borg cubes descended on Aria. El-Aurians who resided off-planet at time of attack or survived by fleeing are estimated to number in the hundreds⁴. Individual Q are not counted among the survivors.

1. Ta, Yrrap. (29089). The End of Knowing.

2. Individuals 68A and 66C of Q. Interview. Conducted by Saavei. 29099.8

3. Ch’Rothi, Thenta (43329). Bent to the Dying Wind: Life in the Final Age of Aria.

4. El-Aurian Census Project.