The Transit of the Eldritch

An Opera in Three Acts

Music by Derylln d'Netsai
Text by Varetz Benalarres
© 2693 Lueng et Filles, pub.

Easily the most popular opera of the past 20 years, The Transit of the Eldritch has been performed more than 500 times, in the The Tellurian Federation, the Cordini Axis, the Dragon Coalition, and on many independent worlds. Telling the story of the heroic journey of Captain Luéz DuBois and her crew to send for Federation reinforcements to save Sol.Tellus System during the War of Manhome Liberation aka "Orion Wars", its brilliant musical themes, soaring arias and other-wordly harmonies are a favorite with audiences as well as performers.

Full libretto: click "Read the Document"

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Eldritch concert performance.jpg

by Leonardo AI via RegentTerry prompt

Concert performance of "The Transit of the Eldritch" at the Intercolonial University Consortium's Veeren Miy Auditorium on Montunao, January 2703, with Milaesara Voronic and Li-zhen Jshek.

"It's the great modern Mezzo role, supplanting Carmen and Andhira Khan in the repertoire for aspiring singers."

_{Einako Yuyen, Vocal Music Interstellar}

"The orchestra is more than accompaniment, establishing the character of the wartime challenges and leading the narrative arc with heartbreaking intensity."

_{Weh mi-Lan Howard, Music Director, Lirac Metaharmonic Orchestra}

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Document Structure

Publication Status

Leung et Filles' Collection of Opera Librettos ©2693
All rights of any kind with respect to the Stanglish publication of this work and any part thereof, including but not limited to live performance, digital performance, digital audio and visual recordings in any media, mechanical and digital reproductions, are strictly reserved.

License to perform this work in any translation in whole or in part must be secured via digital validation from the Publishers. Terms will be quoted upon request.

Historical Details

History

Premiered simultaneously at the Ad Astra Venue, Buenos Aires on Tellus, and at Hurston Music Center Main Stage at Tellus System University - Augustine Dome, New Miami, on November 16th, 2693.

Read the Document

The Transit of the Eldritch

Libretto

The Transit of the Eldritch

An Opera in 3 Acts

Music by
Derylln d'Netsai
Text by
Varetz Benalarres

Cast of Characters:
Captain Luéz DuBois, Mezzo-Soprano
Captain of the Eldritch, and a 32-year veteran of the New Miami Insystem Security forces, she is on the verge of retirement and about to become a grandparent for the first time.
Commander Levin Kormex, Baritone
First Officer and Executive of the Eldritch, he is about to be a parent for the first time.
Major Adril Horvath-Medina, Alto-Mezzo
Second Officer and Communications Chief of the Eldritch, ta is ambitious and technically gifted.
Lieutenant Sees Eagle N'emaa'da, Tenor
Engineering Second and Evironmental Chief of the Eldritch, he is a recent addition to the crew.
Petty Officer Oldambe Ruskmaj, Bass
Drives Technician of the Eldritch, he is a thirty-year veteran who is resisting retirement.
Spacer Dejir al-Suriju, Soprano
Gunner on the Eldritch's Gator Battery, she is in a grav-shell after a childhood accident, and cybernetically-enhanced.
Colonel Morag Rachness, Alto-Tenor Sol.Tellus Insystem Defense, Tellus Orbital Main
Luna Roads Comm System - speaking role
Venarra DuBois - speaking role
Journos, Eldritch crew, Luna Roads refit dock security, Customers at Home Cookin' Diner

Places: Luna Roads Refit Dock Y3, The Home Cookin' Diner on Luna Roads, the Captain's cabin, bridge, and weapons bay of the Eldritch

Synopsis:

Prologue

Colonel Rachness, standing at a podium, announces that the log of the Eldritch has been recovered, and that the court-martial-in-absentia of Captain Luéz DuBois and eight other members of the New Miami Insystem Security Forces has been cancelled.

Act 1

In her cabin on the Eldritch, Luéz listens a message from her daughter Venarra (who is not happy with her being delayed in Tellus orbit when her grandchild is about to arrive.) When she tries to upload her respons Luna Roads Comm System announces that only local nodes are available.

On the bridge, Adril verifies all non-local ComWeb nodes are unavailable, including military channels. Levin reports that his attempt to send a message to his partner was cut off in mid-transmission. They speculate this is a new aspect of the invasion by the Manhome Liberation Fleet and express frustration that their refit took so long.

On the station at the Home Cookin' Diner, where Oldambe, Sees Eagle, Dejir and other crew are eating, Morag announces a lockdown, requiring all ships to remain in dock, and restricting communications. Diners speculate on the rumor that Admiral Noquunatl's forces were defeated at the Disc, and that the loss of communications means the war is going badly.

On the Eldritch, Luéz contacts Morag, and learns about the interdiction and losses in the Disc. Luéz tells te that the Eldritch's refit is complete and they need to return to New Miami but Morag refuses permission. The Fleet's blockade is snapping up any armed ship and with the failure of Noquunatl's breakout, they will need every ship for defense.

Act 2

On the Eldritch's bridge Luéz, Levin, Adril and Sees Eagle discuss the interdiction and doubt that the remaining armed ships insystem can successfully defend against the Fleet without help from the Federation Navy. Adril reports all nine Beacon systems of the insystem network are under Fleet control beyond Ganymede. Only the old outer Disc skip-drone nodes might have escaped Fleet control and they are beyond the Eldritch's range.

Oldambe and Dejir report that although the refitters have signed off on the Eldritch, they are being refused further resupply because of the lockdown. Sees Eagle rages that it would be better to die fighting than sit in dock and wait for the invaders. Luéz, Oldambe and Levin argue that life is precious and the cost of death can only be balanced against securing the future.

In Luéz' cabin, she asks Adril if there is any node the Eldritch could reach with its current fuel load, and Adril says that they could reach 995.d, but they would be unable to return.

In the Eldritch's mess, Luéz tells the crew that their ship is locked down and everyone is angry. Dejir points out that with only two small gun batteries, the Eldritch is hardly likely to rate as a desirable prize for the Fleet. Oldambe says that they couldn't compare to better-armed ships in defending the inner system, either. Everyone wants to do something, not just sit in the dock.

Act 3

In her cabin, Luéz looks at pictures of Venarra and wonders what her first grandchild's future will be. Levin enters and suggests she is planning something, and Luéz reveals they have enough fuel and supplies to reach node 995.d, but not to return. The node's skip beacons could reach Naval stations within a few days. Levin expresses readiness to go and says they should take only essential crew, who volunteer. Luéz agrees.

In the gun battery hold, Sees Eagle asks Dejir to teach him gunnery skills so that he can go on the mission. Oldambe says the mission roster is already complete and Sees Eagle isn't on it, he must stay behind. Sees Eagle threatens to tell Morag that Eldritch is planning to break the lockdown if he is not included. Levin tells them that he is not included either - the Captain found out he is about to become a parent, and declared he must stay behind. It was hard for him to accept that decision, but if he can, so should Sees Eagle.

In the dock, members of the Eldritch crew who are staying behind try to hustle the refit dock security through the personnel lock and a fight breaks out. Sees Eagle mounts a stanchion and fires a shot to stop the fight, and explains to dock security that they have nothing to lose. Dock security leaves with the crew.

As the Eldritch pulls away from the dock, with alarms sounding, Luéz, on the bridge, closes her photoviewer and helps Adril set the course for 995.d.

Epilogue

Colonel Rachness, wearing mourning bands on cap and sleeve, describes the arrival of Admiral D'rinl im-Tasgi Yndrin, and the eventual routing of the Fleet forces as more and more Tellurian Federation Space Naval elements arrived insystem. Ta notes that the Naval ship Strix stripped 995.d's memory core and found a copy of the Eldritch's log, reporting the deaths of all the crew except Dejir, who filed the last log entry, presumably before dying as well.

The Transit of the Eldritch

PROLOGUE

A ComWeb press studio at the Insystem Defense headquarters

1. Recitative

Rachness (at a podium)
Insystem Defense Central Command
has received transmission from the TFNS Strix,
Pursuant to the review of materials
Found by the crew of the Strix at Beacon node 995.d
I will not be convening
the Court Martial in absentia
of Captain Luéz DuBois,
and the eight officers and crewmembers of the Eldritch.

(Shouts from the Journos present:)
"Has the Eldritch been found?"
"Did they desert to the Manhome Fleet?"
"Are they being returned to Tellus?"
"Will they be returning on the Strix?"
"Is this a postponement, will the court martial proceed in person?"
"Is the Command in communication with Captain DuBois?"
"Will you still be presiding over the Court Martial?"

Rachness
"I have no further information for you at this time."

The Journos leave


(Quietly)
"But I will not be presiding
over the court martial of my friend.
And for that I give thanks."

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

The Captain's Cabin on the TSDS Eldritch, Luéz is viewing a ComWeb screen.

Venarra (from the ComWeb screen - spoken)
How much longer will you be in refit, Mother? The baby's due in just a couple of weeks! You said you didn't want to miss the birth of your first grandchild, but I'm starting to think this is going to be just one more thing that you do miss. Like my wedding. And my graduation. And my first dance recital. And just about everything else that's been important to me.

(Sighs) I'm sorry. It's the War that's making me so anxious - on top of a first baby. The raid on Kewest Roads was terrible... Mother, my friend Dalrun was there, te was killed. They flooded the vids, shooting the emyrilli crew from Prodlo and the humans that tried to hide them... It was horrible. When the Administrator's delegation came back without you... I was counting on you... They'll come back.

Come home, please. As soon as they'll let you. I love you.

1. Aria

Luéz

"Every hour of today
Is dark and foreboding
Every moment I'm away
Is a solemn price I pay
To our future devoting

To be so far from you
When your mother's love you need
Has always torn my heart in two
And now this tiny life anew
Demands our world be freed

What future can I buy
For the child I love
What future will she know?
Each day my longing grows

For the child I love
Her future slavery I'll deny!

Luna Roads ComWeb System

(spoken)
Transmission to remote destination nodes unavailable. Please submit your message later, or select a local node destination.

SCENE TWO

The bridge of the Eldritch

Adril

It's not just remote nodes on the regular system
Remote nodes in all the systems have gone down

Levin

It cut out as I tried to tell my partner
I'd be there for the birth of our first child

Luéz

Something like that happend to me
Is this the war claiming another casualty?

2. Trio

All three

The worst possible chance, that our ship would fail
While our world was raided by these vile invaders
Leaving death and sorrow in their ruinous trail
And we lay helpless at this port of peaceful traders
Waiting for parts and skills, idling at the dock
While our people grieve and fear for tomorrow
As our system stands against the horror and the shock
Now that the Eldritch is fit to transit we must go
With so many of our defenses destroyed or taken
Every ship will be needed against these angry foes
We'll bring hearts and ship, determined and unshaken

SCENE THREE

In the Home Cookin' Diner on Luna Roads station

Sees Eagle

Finally, with a refuel and supply
We can return to defend our home.

Oldambe

Let's refuel ourselves here first,
The food is better than on the Eldritch!

Dejir

We should be getting better food
Resupplying on a civilian station.

Luna Roads ComWeb System (spoken)

Stand by for a Priority Announcement from Sol.Tellus Insystem Defense

Rachness (on the Diner's ComWeb screen)

Effective immediately, all communications
Are restricted to local nodes
Also effective immediately, Luna Roads Station
Is on lockdown status. This means
No ships will be permitted to dock or depart
Until further notice.

3. Chorus

Eldritch crew and Home Cookin' customers

This news must hope eclipse
The war is raging unabated
All our faith rested upon
The Federation Navy's ships
Admiral Noquunatl's squadron ill-fated
Fled the Kewest raid
With the Ares Colonial Guard
They went to summon aid
Our hope may be ill-starred

Does the Federation even know
We have been invaded
Our system devastated
By this cruel and vicious foe

SCENE FOUR

The Captain's Cabin on the TSDS Eldritch, Luéz is viewing a ComWeb screen.

4. Dialogue

Rachness

The announcement is not official
But the communications interdiction
Is indeed enemy action.

Luéz

Then you must let us go
The Eldritch can act as a courier ship
To the outer system defenses.

Morag

It is worse than you know, Luéz
Admiral Noquunatl was driven off
Before getting word out
No help is coming
From the Federation Navy

Luéz

With our refit complete
And our ship resupplied
With fuel and ammunition
We may still fight on

Morag

Not alone! Not alone-
You do not know the danger
The Humans First blockade
Has destroyed or taken
Every ship that approaches

Luéz

Then release us,
At least we may return
Some defense to New Miami
Our home is all but defenseless now
Let us die in their cause

Morag

It cannot be, we need
Every armed ship
For inner system defense
Wait with us

Luéz

Wait? Wait?
For what, Morag?
For the enemy to overwhelm us all
Before we have a chance to fight?

Morag

The Ares Colonial Guard ships
That escaped the enemy will return
We will fight on, then

Luéz

But someone must break through
Take word, where the Federation
Can send us aid

Morag

The lockdown continues
Be patient, Luéz

(The transmission ends)

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE

The bridge of the Eldritch

5. Dialogue/Quartet

Levin

Insystem Defense is desperate
Their plan has no chance of success

Adril

Taking on these Humans First terrorists
Will need more armed ships than they have

Sees Eagle

But the only choice is to fight
We cannot allow Tellus system to submit

Luéz

The size of the invasion fleet
Swells by the day with captured vessels

All Four

This plan to make a final stand
With survivors of the Disc defeat
And any armed ships at hand
Just cannot make an effective fleet

Without Federation Navy aid
Tellus system will surely fall
If no one breaks this blockade
Their hellish victory to forestall

Adril

I have pinged all nine beacon nets
From here to Ganymede and beyond
Military and civilian, the enemy
Controls them all

Luéz, Levin, and Sees Eagle

Are there no beacon nodes
They could have overlooked?
No way to send word
Of Tellus system's plight?

Adril

Nodes in the outer disc
Using older tech
Cannot be remotely controlled
But they are far beyond our reach

SCENE TWO

The bridge of the Eldritch

Oldambe and Dejir enter

Luéz

What did the chandlers say?
Give us your report.

Oldambe and Dejir

The refit sign-off has been processed
But the chandlers will not supply us
They tell us they are complying
With the Insystem Defense lockdown

Levin

We have only half of the environmental
And crew supplies that we need

Adril

Our power bricks stand at seventy percent
And we have no ammunition in storage

6. Aria

Sees Eagle

I will not believe there is no course of action for us
But to sit in this dock and await our enemy's ships
Surely it is better to go forth fighting to restore
If only to die with honor and words of defiance on our lips
We made a promise, we took a solemn oath
To place our bodies between our loved ones and the foe
To keep our homes safe from the invaders cruelty and woe
We must keep this promise, we must redeem our troth
Why do we linger, under these bureaucrats orders
We knew from the first tidings of the invading horde
Our destiny has been to tread the path of the sword
Let us spill our blood and theirs at our system border!

7. Trio

Luéz, Oldambe, and Levin

Your ardor is a flame
That burns with the strength of youth
But honor is more than a noble aim
And promises rest on life as well as death
Life is a gift with power
Lay it on the altar of an ideal
And we buy only a dream of honor
And leave our children to their ordeal
The oaths we swore demand more
Than blood of vengeance and fervor
We must find a path to end this war
To become our future's preserver

SCENE THREE

The Captain's Cabin on the TSDS Eldritch
(Luéz studies a navigation display on the ComWeb screen)

8. Duet

Luéz

Still the blockade continues
Only silence answers from our ComWebs

Adril

We cannot let fear eclipse our hearts
The power of the enemy is finite

Luéz

Does the Federation even know of our peril?
Will they know before it is too late?

Adril

One small ship, no ammunition for our guns
We can do nothing without Insystem Defense

Luéz

Are you so sure? One small ship...
One small, fast, maneuverable ship
Perhaps the best chance to evade
This persistent, pernicious blockade

Adril

There is just one beacon node might
Be within our cruising range
And that only if we travel light
And give up all hope to return

Luéz

Then there is hope!

Both

One small ship, against so many foes
One small ship, might yet dare to go
Through unfathomable deeps of space
One small ship, might yet outpace
The invaders pursuit, evade their chase
To vanish among the starry wastes
And the outer system's disc attain
And send out work, and help obtain
One small ship, might make a final stance
One small ship, might buy our children's chance
One small ship, might this battle turn
One small ship, that could never return

SCENE FOUR

The crew mess of the Eldritch

9. Ensemble

Luéz

I have asked Insystem Defense
To free the Eldritch from the lockdown
They refused, they fear we'd be captured
And our ship turned against our home

Crew

What folly! How can they do this?
Are we going to submit?
Our home was raided, we stay here helpless
Waiting for a useless death?

Dejir

How can they think the Eldritch
With our two small gun batteries
Would be a prize worth the taking
For the enemy fleet?

Oldambe

And do they think the Eldritch
With our two small gun batteries
Could turn the tide of battle
To aid their greater ships?

Crew

We would gladly fight
If they would resupply us
We would gladly fight
If we could save our homes
We would gladly fight
If it costs our lives
We would gladly fight
To our ship's last salvo
We would gladly fight
We would gladly fight

Sitting in this dock
Accomplishes nothing
Waiting for the enemy
This is not even an ambush
This is waiting to die
For no purpose
With no meaning

Let us go, let us fight
Let us fight!

ACT THREE

SCENE ONE

The Captain's Cabin on the TSDS Eldritch

1. Aria (Reprise)

Luéz

"Every hour of today
Is dark and foreboding
If I must with my life pay
A cost I cannot weigh
For future's hope promoting

What future can I buy
For the child I love
What future will she know?
Each day my longing grows
For the child I love
Her future slavery I'll deny!

(Levin enters.)

10. Recitative and Duet

Levin

It's clear to me, you have a plan

Luéz

Not a good one, I'm afraid

Levin

Are there good plans, these dark days?

Luéz

That depends on our ship, and our courage.
To reach the beacon node, we have fuel and supplies

Levin

Why do we wait, let us go at once!
If we can reach it, we restore hope

Luéz

If we can slip unnoticed, through the blockade
We have no ammunition to fight, we can only evade

Levin

We have the best crew, our ship is small and fast
Let us venture this, the volume of space is vast

Luéz

There is one other peril, necessity cruel and stern
We have the fuel to get there, but none to return

Levin

Then only those most needed, willing to give their lives
Should join this venture, without hope to survive

Both

Only the few
Prepared to die
Uncertain of success
But willing to try
And with our lives attest
The peril our worlds fight
Without help, defeat in sight
We'll send this word
We'll summon help
We'll go, undeterred
Our lives we'll trade!

SCENE TWO

Portside gun battery hold on the Eldritch

11. Quartet

Oldambe

Too late, the mission roster
Is complete - no more gunners needed

Sees Eagle

Trade with me! Teach me gunnery
Let me die among the stars

Dejir

You have another fate, and you will
Make your forebears and descendents proud

Sees Eagle

I must be part of this mission
Or I will reveal all to Insystem Defense!

Levin

Do you think you are the only one
Who must stay behind unwilling?

Oldambe

You, Levin? You are not to join this transit?

Levin

My child is soon to be born, Captain Dubois
Will not accept me as a volunteer

Dejir and Oldambe

Sees Eagle, look around you! You are not
The center of this universe-
The mission of the Eldritch
Depends upon us all, those who stay
Even as those who go

Sees Eagle

I would have gone, I am no coward

Levin and Oldambe

None who remain are cowards
Not a crewmember but stood forth
Ready to die for our homes
But fate still overpowers
And true hearts must also own
The courage to go on living

All

The heart of every shipmate
Transits with our vessel
The courage of those who remain
Sustains those who will meet fate
Something awaits, something special
You will be here to explain
The honor of those who will die
Rests in the hands of we who will live!

SCENE THREE

Dockside access area for the Eldrich

(Levin and two other Eldritch officers stride forward with crewmembers behind them, three dock security block the personnel hatch)

Levin

Stand aside, my crew must leave!

(One of the dock security hits the emergency response button and the personnel hatch opens, five more security enter and crewmembers attempt to push them back through the open hatch.)

Eldritch Crew

You cannot prevent us! We must leave now!
No more time to argue, we will fulfill our vow
The Eldritch must depart
Taking with her the heart
Of all our hopes and the future of our kin!

Dock Security

Insystem police prohibit crews
From leaving armed ships without permit
Have you fools not heard the news?
The invaders are coming, will you quit?
Your defense may be needed!

(Sees Eagle climbs upon a stanchion and fires a stunner round, and there is silence, everyone stops in their tracks)

12. Aria and Chorus

Sees Eagle

Stop this folly! You cannot prevent us,
We are those with nothing to lose
The battle may commence without us
We know that we will be accused
Our ship must make its transit
The Eldritch will not return
But we believe her mission
Will succeed as our Captain planned it
And fulfill her purpose stern
You will have our permission
To arrest us, when we are done
You cannot change our determination
We will fight until we have died or won!

(Astonished, the dock security stand back, and the crew leave through the access hatch, hands up.)

Eldritch Crew

Farewell Captain! Farewell Shipmates! Farewell Eldritch!
May you transit with speed
Our hearts go with you
May your mission succeed
Our futures you will secure
As for us, we will here endure
Odium, arrest and misunderstanding
All for the future of our homes.

(Dock security follow them out.)

SCENE FOUR

Bridge of the Eldritch

(Luéz, Adril and Oldambe watch the dockside monitor, showing their crew being marched out, and the dockside security leaving.)

Adril

Dockside access secured, Captain!

Oldambe

Insystem powerup complete, Captain!

Dejir (on the ship ComWeb)

Ancillary systems online for cruising, Captain!

Luéz

Undock on my mark...

Mark!

(Alarms sound, the ships communication system's emergency signal sounds, Adril turns it off).

Adril

Undock complete, Captain.

(Luéz holds a photoviewer, with a picture of Venarra, smiling and pregnant. Slowly, she turns it off, and joins Adril at the navigation console.)

Luéz

Prepare to enter course information for node 995.d

Music: "Transit of the Eldritch Theme" as lights go down

EPILOGUE

Insystem Defense Headquarters, a meeting room with several officers seated around a table, Colonel Rachness stands at the head of the table, wearing mourning bands on cap and sleeve.

13. Recitative

Rachness

Insystem Defense Central Command
received the transmission from the TFNS Strix,
Thirty hours before the arrival
Of Admiral D'rinl im-Tasgi Yndrin.
As you know, Admiral D'rinl
And his squadron
Drew off the invaders from Insystem Tellus
While reinforcements arrived
The invasion fleet was routed
And Tellus System is secure.

The Strix stripped the memory core
From Beacon node 995.d
The log of the Eldritch was loaded there
Spacer Dejir al-Suriju
Reported the deaths of all crew
With the final entry.

The crew left behind
Were released and assigned to Insystem Security ships
They fought gallantly.
And the transit of the Eldritch
Will live forever in Tellus System.

But I will miss my friend, forever.

Close

Type

Entertainment, Opera/Musical Theater

Medium

Digital Recording, Text

Authoring Date

2692

Premier Cast: Ad Astra Venue

CaptainLuéz DuBois, Mezzo-Soprano: Jilles n'Kenta
Commander Levin Kormex, Baritone: Gorham Medina
Major Adril Horvath-Medina Alto-Mezzo: Ladsic Wykaciwicz
Lieutenant Sees Eagle N'emaa'da, Tenor: Li-zhen Jshek
Petty Officer Oldambe Ruskmaj, Bass: Chimmandi Godiche
Spacer Dejir al-Suriju, Soprano: Dances on Rocks Aboncito
Colonel Morag Rachness, Alto-Tenor: Daine Rissani
Luna Roads Comm System - speaking role: Jahs Mel Dahn'l
Venarra DuBois - speaking role: Tian Melus

Premier Cast: Augustine Dome

CaptainLuéz DuBois, Mezzo-Soprano: Milaesara Voronic
Commander Levin Kormex, Baritone: David Kallar
Major Adril Horvath-Medina Alto-Mezzo: Indria Ridesfree
Lieutenant Sees Eagle N'emaa'da, Tenor: Orwn Rudelnych
Petty Officer Oldambe Ruskmaj, Bass: Bengram O'derthiam
Spacer Dejir al-Suriju, Soprano: Kumriya Ghandi
Colonel Morag Rachness, Alto-Tenor: El Pria
Luna Roads Comm System - speaking role: Aben Mwisi
Venarra DuBois - speaking role: Lenore Kamran