FADE IN:
86. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
The following sequence echoes the one in the simulator, but everyone shows a massive increase in confidence and assuredness. Jaredan swivels to Kara.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(to Kara)
Time to get underway. Ready?
KARA
Aye, sir. First officer go for launch.
JAREDAN
Poll stations for launch readiness.
KARA
(to Hikaru)
Flight control?
HIKARU
Flight Control go.
KARA
(to Elena)
Operations?
ELENA
Operations go.
KARA
(to T’Ress)
Sciences?
T’RESS
Science and Sensor station is go.
KARA
(to Paran)
Tactical?
PARAN
Tactical and Security are go.
KARA
(to Ki, into comm)
Engineering?
INSERT: KI IN MAIN ENGINEERING
KI
(into comm)
Engineering is go.
KARA
(to Jennifer, into comm)
Medical?
INSERT: JENNIFER IN SICKBAY
JENNIFER
Medical and Life Support are go.
VIEW: COMMAND and FWD AREAS
KARA
(to Jaredan)
All systems go, Captain.
JAREDAN
Thank you, Commander.
He activates the comm.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(into comm)
Endeavour to Spacedock control, requesting clearance to launch.
VOICE (VO)
(over comm)
Spacedock control here. You are clear for launch. Godspeed,
Endeavour.
JAREDAN
(into comm)
Acknowledged, Spacedock control, and thank you.
(to Hikaru)
Lieutenant Takani, ready maneuvering thrusters.
HIKARU
Maneuvering thrusters standing by, sir.
JAREDAN
Take us out.
87. EXT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - IN DRYDOCK
With a brief pulse of her thrusters, the ENDEAVOUR pulls out of the scaffolding. We watch from VARIOUS ANGLES as she clears Drydock.
88. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
HIKARU
We’re clear of the Drydock facility.
JAREDAN
Helm, place us on a heading of 030 mark 54, full impulse.
HIKARU
Heading 030 mark 54, aye. Full impulse.
89. EXT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - EARTH ORBIT
The ENDEAVOUR’s IMPULSE ENGINES glow, and the ship speeds away from Earth.
90. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
The classic Bridge crew shot, looking aft. Hikaru finishes at his panel.
HIKARU
(to Jaredan)
We’re underway, Captain. We should make the edge of the system
in approximately… 7.5 hours.
JAREDAN
Thank you, Lieutenant Takani.
(to Kara)
Commander Lionetti, send a signal to Captain Picard at the Academy.
Let him know we’re on our way.
KARA
With pleasure, sir.
As she starts her work, Jaredan activates one of his side panels, pulling up a HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY. A text file appears, and he begins studying it intently.
TIME DISSOLVES.
We hear his first LOG ENTRY in VO. During the VO, Jaredan gets up and checks in with various STATIONS.
JAREDAN (VO)
Captain’s Log, initial entry, Stardate 51157.12. Acting Captain
Jaredan Ryan Aquino recording.
(beat)
Per our orders from Captain Picard, the Endeavour is a few minutes
from completing the final shakedown run around the solar system before
her maiden voyage to Starbase 109, in Sector 012.
(beat)
I’ve only been able to make a cursory reading of the crew’s personnel
files at this time, but even that has convinced me that the Endeavour is
in the hands of the best Cadets possible.
(beat)
No one knows what lies in store for this ship and her crew, maybe not
even Captain Picard, but whatever it is, I can’t wait to find out.
A female Cadet wearing LT (JG) rank brings Jaredan a PADD. He reads it over, then “signs off” on it. The LT (JG) takes it back and EXITS. Jaredan crosses to Kara’s station.
JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Commander, you have the Conn. I’ll be in my Ready Room.
KARA
(a little too enthusiastic)
Aye, sir.
Jaredan hides a smile as he watches her excitedly take the Captain’s Chair. That done, he crosses to the READY ROOM DOORS. They open, and he ENTERS.
91. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - READY ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Jaredan ENTERS, and the doors close behind him. The ready room is smallish, but contains a desk, chairs, a small sofa as we expect. Jaredan heads for the replicator.
JAREDAN
(to replicator)
Iced rak–
(beat, reconsidering)
Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.
The smirk on his face mirrors the one on the viewers’. The beverage materializes, and he brings it back to the desk. He sits, takes a sip, and activates his TERMINAL.
JAREDAN
(to computer)
Display crew manifest.
The list appears on the terminal screen. He selects the first (non-regular character) crewmember, and the file comes up.
CUT TO:
92. EXT. SPACE - CORIONIS RESEARCH FACILITY - SECTOR 004
A peaceful, sedate-looking SPACE STATION, in orbit around a red-brown planet.
93. INT. CORIONIS RESEARCH FACILITY - OPERATIONS ROOM - NIGHT
The CAMERA OPENS on Starfleet signage identifying the place. We PAN AROUND the room, taking in the Spartan nature of the place. A single technician, ALBERT, a mug of coffee within reach, is nervously watching a display. Soon, a gruff, middle-aged human male, DR. FERIA, appears in his robe and sleeping clothes.
FERIA
(drowsily)
All right, Albert, what is it this time?
(beat)
Cardassians again? Or maybe Jem’Hadar?
ALBERT
I really think there’s something or someone out there, Dr. Feria.
(beat)
Maybe the Dominon does know about the facility.
FERIA
(bored)
Albert, this research facility only went active three weeks ago.
Besides, a Dominion incursion this far into Federation space would be suicidal.
ALBERT
You really think that there’s nothing to worry about?
FERIA
Absolutely, Albert. Listen, son, I’ll put you on afternoon watch
for a while, huh? That should calm your nerves.
He pats Albert on the shoulder. Suddenly, the LIGHTS GO TO RED, and an ALARM KLAXON sounds.
COMPUTER VOICE (VO)
Warning! An incoming vessel has targeted this facility.
Albert suppresses his “I told you so” reflex, and begins tapping at the console.
ALBERT
(to computer)
Computer, raise shields!
FERIA
Can you identify the attacker?
ALBERT
Attackers, sir– there are three of them.
(beat)
They’re some kind of heavily-armed scouts, but aren’t registering as
any specific–
Albert is cut off as the STATION ROCKS with weapons impact. Consoles spark and explode.
94. EXT. SPACE - CORIONIS RESEARCH FACILITY - UNDER ATTACK
The three ENEMY SHIPS circle the station like sharks, particle beam fire lighting up the shields.
95. INT. CORIONIS RESEARCH FACILITY - OPERATIONS ROOM - NIGHT
The place is almost totally wrecked. Albert crawls out from under some debris, only to find Dr. Feria pinned beneath a girder, unmoving. Pulling a broken leg along behind him, Albert forces himself up to the only active terminal left.
ALBERT
(strained)
Activate… emergency… distress beacon.
(beat)
Open… emergency channel.
The words “DISTRESS BEACON ACTIVE” begin flashing on the sputtering screen in red.
CUT TO:
96. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - READY ROOM - NIGHT
Jaredan is as we left him, studying a file. The comm BEEPS.
KARA
(over comm, urgent)
Captain to the Bridge! Repeat, Captain to the Bridge!
Jaredan is at the door before the second sentence is finished.
97. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Jaredan ENTERS.
JAREDAN
Talk to me, Kara.
KARA
(vacating the Captain’s Chair)
We’re picking up a distress signal from a research facility about three
sectors over.
JAREDAN
(taking the Captain’s Chair)
On screen.
The VIEWSCREEN ACTIVATES. Albert is there, but the static is terrible.
ALBERT
(over comm, staticky)
… Corionis Research Facility… under attack… unknown… ships… casualties…
don’t know… receiving… please help… hold out… maybe another… thirty minutes…
The signal goes almost all static. The viewscreen goes to FORWARD VIEW.
JAREDAN
We lost it?
KARA
(nodding)
We were lucky to get that much.
JAREDAN
Helm, ETA to Corionis facility?
HIKARU
(automatically)
Less than ten minutes at maximum, sir.
(beat, realizing)
Sir?
KARA
You want us to respond?
JAREDAN
(to Elena)
Lieutenant Reyes, are there any other ships close enough to respond?
ELENA
(darkening)
Negative, sir. The closest ship is the Budapest, and it’ll take
her almost an hour to get there.
Jaredan takes a deep breath, and sits back. He closes his eyes. After a few heartbeats, he opens them again, and they seem to have turned to steel.
JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Contact Starfleet Command and the Budapest.
(beat)
Inform them that we are moving to respond.
KARA
(pauses)
Aye, sir.
She gets to work.
JAREDAN
Yellow Alert.
The appropriate LIGHTS and SOUNDS activate.
JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(to Hikaru)
Helm, plot a course to the Corionis facility.
HIKARU
Aye, sir.
JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Mr. Tor, ready weapons systems and shields.
PARAN
Aye, sir.
JAREDAN
(to Elena)
Lieutenant Reyes, try to get a signal to the research facility.
Tell them we’re on our way.
ELENA
Aye, sir.
HIKARU
(to Jaredan)
Course laid in, sir.
JAREDAN
Maximum warp.
(beat)
Engage.
98. EXT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR
With a flash, the ENDEAVOUR GOES TO WARP.
99. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - NIGHT
A nervous, tense energy fills the Bridge.
T’RESS
(to Jaredan)
Captain, we are within sensor range of the Corionis facility.
PARAN
We’re reading three ships, of unknown origin.
(beat)
The station is taking a real beating. I’m surprised it’s lasted
this long.
JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Tactical assessment of the enemy ships?
PARAN
At this range, the best I can say is… they’re about as strong as a
Starfleet scout. One will put up a decent fight. Three…
JAREDAN
(grimly)
Understood.
(beat, to all)
I know that this is the absolute last thing any of us were expecting
to run into. I know that you’re wondering why we should try to take
a ship crewed by Cadets into battle.
(beat)
But like I said before, this ship and this crew are here, at this time,
for a reason. We’ve been given a duty, and we would betray that duty
if we were to stand aside and let people die.
KARA
(to Jaredan)
Captain, we’re in range.
JAREDAN
(nods)
Red Alert!
KARA
(into comm)
Red Alert! All hands to battlestations! Repeat, all hands
to battlestations!
JAREDAN
(to Hikaru)
Helm, take us to impulse and bring us in on attack vector.
HIKARU
Slowing to impulse. Coming in bearing 085 mark 37.
JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Raise shields. Arm phasers and quantum torpedoes.
100. EXT. SPACE - U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR ARRIVES
The ENDEAVOUR slows down, and angles in towards the station. Two enemy ships break off and head towards them.
101. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - NIGHT
JAREDAN
(to Elena)
Hail them.
ELENA
Hailing frequencies open, sir.
JAREDAN
(into comm, confident)
This is Captain Jaredan Aquino of the Federation starship Endeavour.
(beat)
Cease fire and surrender.
ELENA
No response, Captain.
KARA
They’re locking on!
JAREDAN
(to Hikaru)
Helm, evasive pattern Delta Three!
The ship ROCKS slightly.
KARA
Glancing hits only. Shields holding.
JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Lock phasers.
HIKARU
Coming to 130 mark 02. Enemy ships coming about for another pass.
PARAN
We’re on target.
CLOSE - ON JAREDAN
JAREDAN
Fire.
FADE OUT.
END ACT NINE