Star Trek: Redstone
"Demons of Air and Darkness"
Written by Chris P Vella
Final
July 19, 1998
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. SPACE SCROLLING TEXT (OPTICAL)
In 2365, the crew of the USS EnterpriseNCC 1701-d found a planet named Iconia. It was presumed to be the homeworld of the Iconians, a technologically advanced people who controlled a vast interstellar empire 200 000 years ago. Their planet was located in the Neutral Zone and all technology apon it was destroyed, because of fear that it would fall into Romulan hands. But on stardate 53040.2, Federation sensor relays recorded unusual anomalies. These relays, revealed several Romulan ships, which had extensive damage and were drifting in space....
Two Romulan ships fly past. Another ship follows. A second alien ship fires but misses.
2 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE
ROMULAN CAPTAIN
Initiate equivocal procedures.
ROMULAN TACTICAL OFFICER
Its no good, they are substantially more maneuverable then we are.
ROMULAN CAPTAIN
Initiate the warp drive take us to heading two seven three mark nine.
3 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The Romulans go to warp. The two alien ships follow. They fire a phaser blast at the Romulan's exhaust and there is a spark. The ships slow down to impulse speed.
4 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE
ROMULAN TACTICAL OFFICER
They have fired disrupters at our primary plasma exhaust. Warp drive is down. They are initiating the gate, attempting to board the ship.
5 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The Romulan ship has sparks come out of its exhaust as before. There is a flash of light and a particle wave, washes out into space from the Romulan ship. The alien ship stays for a few seconds then flies off at warp.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
6 EXT. SPACE UTOPIA PLANITIA, MARS (OPTICAL)
The USS Redstone is hooked up at the Dry-dock Station which is orbiting Mars. There is a Small Vessel, The USS Mauritania, which is next to the Dry-dock Station.
7 INT. USS MAURITANIA SHUTTLEBAY
An official event is being conducted. There are several high-ranking officials there, including all the main USS Redstone crew. There are also a number of N.D.s. All Starfleet personnel wearing dress uniform.
FEERMAN
I christen this vessel (BEAT) the USS Redstone, NCC 97421. In honor of the late20th century satellites.
He lifts a glass and then nods his head to someone (O.C.)
INTERCUT:
8 EXT. SPACE UTOPIA PLANITIA, MARS (OPTICAL)
A champagne bottle flies towards the USS Redstone. It reaches the saucer section and then shatters.
INTERCUT:
9 INT. USS MAURITANIA SHUTTLEBAY
There is music playing and the people present are talking and celebrating. CAPTAIN ZACHERY JOHNSON is talking to ADMIRAL FEERMAN.
FEERMAN
(to Zach)
She's a fine ship Captain, I hope you look after her.
JOHNSON
Don't worry Admiral, enough of my ships have been destroyed as it is, ill try to keep this one a bit longer.
FEERMAN
Well, I don't care how much you mangle her up, just keep her in one piece for me, okay?
JOHNSON
Well there's one thing you can be sure of, I'm not letting the Borg take this one away from me, not after the last one, or the Dominion either. (BEAT) It seems like every time I get a nice new ship, I'm sent in to fight a war and I loose it just inside of a year.
FEERMAN
Well maybe this time you'll be a little luckier.
LIEUTENANT WADE MYERS is drinking champagne and looking out the shuttlebay's baydoors which are open. ENSIGN SCOTT MORRIS walks up behind her and taps her on the shoulder, she turns around.
MYERS
OH!, Scott, it's so great to see you, (BEAT) soyou've finally finished the academy. Wow, I remember when I did. So tell me about it, did you get a good ranking in your class? Where's your first posting? Hey, did you get a ship? A starbase? A planet? What.
He is surprised
MORRIS
(Cutting her off)
Hey, Wade, slow down. If you don't stop speaking, I won't get a chance to say anything. Now (BEAT) I got a ship, but you'll never guess which one.
She accepts his challenge.
MYERS
The Kyushu-B, no wait the, um, Prometheus, I've heard they're trying to further improve the warp drive on it.
MORRIS
No, its starts with an R.
He smiles at her, she has no idea what ship he has been posted to.
MYERS
The Rutledge?, I, (beat) I don't know.
MORRIS
No,.... (long beat) The Redstone !
Myers hugs him and they walk off to a table which has some food on it. COMMANDER PHOEBE DAWSON is there eating.
MORRIS
Oh, Wade, I want you to meet our new first officer, Commander Phoebe Dawson.
DAWSON and MYERS shake hands.
MYERS
Its very nice to meet you Commander. How do you know Scott if I may ask?
DAWSON
I taught a class at the academy for two years about field battle. Ensign Morris here was, how do I say, ah, rather enthusiastic, about my classes.
Her mind starts to wonder, she thinks that they had a romance.
MYERS
Ooh Scott, I hope you don't expect any special treatment from *PHOEBE*
He is annoyed that she thinks he falls for everyone.
MORRIS
Quit it Wade.
She realizes what MYERS thinks happened and tries set her straight.
DAWSON
No, you don't have to worry Lieutenant, it was only Scott who was enthusiastic, and it was over a year ago.
She is still not convinced.
MYERS
Uh huh.
10 INT. CORRIDOR TO TURBOLIFT HOUR #2
JOHNSON is walking down the corridor with DAWSON, the first officer.
DAWSON
Captain.
JOHNSON
Commander. (BEAT) Did you enjoy the celebrations?
DAWSON
Yes I, (BEAT) they were okay,(BEAT) I could have lived without those speeches from all those Admirals though.
JOHNSON
Don't you like official events.
DAWSON
I just find them a little dull for my tastes. Give me a real party any day.
JOHNSON
I hope I don't find you dancing in deflector control after duty.
She thinks about what JIN told her about KLINER.
DAWSON
Somehow I don't think you'll have to worry about me doing that. If I were you I'd be more worried about our doctor.
He whispers as he is immensely interested in her gossip.
JOHNSON
Why what have you heard?
She continues the charade, pretending that she is also interested in the gossip.
DAWSON
Well, this is not official, but I heard from Lieutenant Commander Jin that she seduced all the men on her last ship. By the time she got transferred, the LeSalle was a place where *EVERYBODY* knows her name.
11 TURBOLIFT DOORS
JOHNSON and DAWSON are inside the turbolift, the doors close.
12 INT. BRIDGE
The doors open, JOHNSON and DAWSON are inside, they walk to their posts. All the Redstone crew are present on the bridge, along with some N.D.s.
JOHNSON
Commander Jin, initialize impulse reactors and retract umbilicals from the Dry-dock station.
He begins tapping at his controls.
JIN
Impulse drive at full power. Umbilicals retracting.
DINER
All systems are fully on-line and operational.
Looking at the engineering display.
MYERS
Tactical ready and operational.
MORRIS
Operations and communications at the ready.
JOHNSON
Well then. (beat) Engage !
13 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The dry-dock station is in the background with the USS Mauritania. The USS Redstone flies off at warp.
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
14 INT. SICKBAY
DOCTOR SARAH KLINER and LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JIN are unpacking supplies and talking.
KLINER
So, Jin, (BEAT) do you know anyone on the ship.
JIN
In what capacity.
KLINER
Like, have you met anyone in the crew before, (BEAT), are you friends with anyone?
JIN
Well I have prior contact with the first officer.
She repeats his words, as if mocking him.
KLINER
In what capacity.
JIN
(BEAT) I served with her on a ship which was destroyed at Wolf 359.
She mentions it in passing.
KLINER
Oh, right, (BEAT) that was that Borg thing wasn't it.
JIN thinks that she is not very sentimental.
JIN
Well I am glad to see you have an acute sense of compassion for the hundreds of people who died there.
She tries to justify her position.
KLINER
Well I'm sorry. (BEAT) I wasn't there. (BEAT) I don't know what it was like.
JIN tries to get her involved to make her understand.
JIN
You should join us on the anniversary.
KLINER
Anniversary?
JIN
Yes, the survivors join in a mourning ceremony to commemorate the people who gave their lives to save ours.
KLINER
Oh, okay, I thought you were going to say something else, don't worry.
JIN ignores her last statement.
JIN
Some say that the ceremony preserves the souls of the dead. (BEAT) Keeps them alive in a better place.
She is immediately dismissive of the idea on an afterlife.
KLINER
Oh, please. (BEAT) Don't get me started on that again.
JIN
You mean your blatant disbelief in religion.
She tries to convince him, otherwise with scientific fact.
KLINER
No,(BEAT) my rational and scientific views on that you just decay when you die!
He is not asking her to believe only accept that he believes.
JIN
You could at least try to perceive my peoples beliefs to be possible. They are the most plausible after all.
KLINER
I just don't see how it could be possible.
JIN
Doctor, if I may ask, why is it so hard for you to accept?
KLINER
Its not hard for me to accept, its just crazy. (BEAT) The whole idea of it. There is no possible way that the cremated remains of some alien could exist within a dark matter nebula, for thousands of years, and then fall down to a planet and populate it with a race of people.
KLINER is packing storage supplies into a medical supply closet, she is adamant about her opinion and will not give in.
JIN
But there are texts which tell of it happening, how do you think the ancient race of the B`akuul came to exist?
She mocks the ancient texts.
KLINER
OH! the sacred Bolian tale of the B`akuul. I'd hate to tell you this, but(BEAT) maybe its just a myth.
He thinks it is a serious matter.
JIN
I would hardly describe the tale of creation of the ancient relatives of the Bolian people as mythical.
She believes it is just another religious myth.
KLINER
Jin, get over it, its a story made up to describe your origin. Every race has them. The Bolian idea is just a little, well wacky, even for me.
At this point KLINER has moved on to stacking padds with the crew manifest on them. JIN is frantically pacing, trying to come up with excuses to disprove KLINER's statements.
KLINER
To think that a humanoid organism could have developed from a few cells in a nebula, yes is remotely plausible, but hardly enough to believe its how you cam to be. There must be something wrong with that blue blood of yours, are you sure you are getting enough oxygen? (BEAT) Or is it all that aged meat you guys eat?
He is mildly offended.
JIN
If your going to insult me, then I might as well leave. Just because you don't believe something witch *MAY* bepossible, I'm not saying that it definitely is, just that you accept the possibility of it might being true.
She realizes that she hasn't been too fair on him.
KLINER
Okay then! I don't know why every time I see you, I have to go through this discussion. What is it about you people, you always have to...(beat) Who, is, this?
She holds up the data padd she was looking at. It has a medical record of LIEUTENANT KEVIN DINER on it.
JIN
Oh no not again.
KLINER
What not again.
JIN
I hope your not going to seduce everyone again.
KLINER
And when did I do this before.
JIN
On the LeSalle.
She remembers her last post.
KLINER
I went out with like ten people, that's it.
He remembers her last post.
JIN
Yes exactly. And how long were you stationed there ?
Is defensive
KLINER
Oh, leave me alone. (BEAT) Now, who is this?
JIN
Where, show me.
JIN takes the padd from her and looks at it for a second.
JIN
That is the engineer. His rank is Lieutenant, and it says here he has not had a routine physical in over a eight months.
KLINERI wouldn't mind giving *HIM* a physical.
He can't believe she is still going on about him.
JIN
I bet he is not the only one.
The doors open and an injured DINER walks in with his hands on his neck.
DINER
Hello, it would be good to get some help here.
She is surprised at his entry. She forgets what to do and stands mindlessly for a few seconds.
KLINER
(BEAT) OH! OH! Yeah, sorry. Um, yeah okay, let me just ah, help you there. Um, sit down over there on that biobed.
She fumbles around with the rest of the padds and they all end up falling on the floor. She moves down to pick them up but JIN moves to do it himself. She grabs a tricorder and scans him.
JIN
Don't mind me doctor.
KLINER
Oh, shut up. You have a broken collar bone and a fractured wrist. What on earth were you doing?
DINER
I was in the holodeck playing, parrises squares.
KLINER
Parrises squares? Oh, isn't that a bit dangerous?
DINER
Only if the safeties are turned off.
KLINER
And let me guess, that's just exactly what you like to do.
DINER
Well, yeah. (BEAT) Why, you got a problem with that ?
She thinks he is flirting with her.
KLINER
No, of course not.
JIN
Lieutenant Diner, may I get your opinion on something?
KLINER looks at JIN as if saying, 'you had to get him involved'.
DINER
Ah, yeah (BEAT) sure.
DINER is happy to help, even though he has no idea what is going on.
JIN
Do you believe in an afterlife?
DINER is reluctant to respond, he does not want to offend JIN or KLINER the first day on the ship but 7he wants to express his opinion as well.
DINER
Well, there are a lot of people who do believe. (BEAT) Personally I don't I think that its just anti-science. The whole idea of an after-life to me is just an easy escape for the people who don't do the right thing in life.
JIN
What about your tale of creation. (BEAT) Do you believe in that?
DINER
I don't think so.(BEAT) It's just a little too (BEAT) well fictitious for me.
KLINER thinks that she has won.
KLINER
See Jin,(BEAT) nobody believes in that sort of thing anymore.
JIN
No that does not prove anything. It proves that humans do not believe in their tale of creation.
KLINER
It's all the same thing.
DINER
On the contrary Doctor, Commander Jin is right. I don't believe in my tale of creation but just because I don't believe in mine doesn't mean I believe in his.
KLINER is shocked when she hears DINER say this. She looks at JIN in a similar way to when DINER first came in.
JIN
See any rational person would agree.
15 INT. BRIDGE
MORRIS is there with MYERS, JOHNSON, DAWSON and some N.D.s. An alarm goes off at MORRIS' station.
MORRIS
Captain, we have an incoming subspace transmission from Starfleet Command.
JOHNSON
On screen.
MORRIS
Captain, its priority one from Admiral Feerman , encrypted.
JOHNSON
Okay, I'll take it in my ready room.
16 INT. CAPTAINS READY ROOM
JOHNSON walks over to the desk and sits down in the chair. He turns on the monitor and the Federation logo is flashing on it.
JOHNSON
Computer, decompile and decrypt communicae, authorization Johnson-Alpha-129-Beta-5.
COMPUTER VOICE
Working, decompolation complete. Please play when ready.
JOHNSON
Play message.
17 MONITOR (OPTICAL)
The Federation Logo disappears and FEERMAN appears.
FEERMAN
Captain, we've picked up strange readings from the Romulan Neutral Zone. I'd hate to ruin your little pleasure cruise there but this is frankly more important. About 5 hours ago, several Romulan ships drifted across the RNZ into Federation space. We waited a couple of hours to see what they would do, but nothing happened. We have a feeling that something might be wrong because they don't have any power signatures. You have permission to cross into the RNZ, just don't go over into Romulan space. Your job is to see what's wrong. And if there is something seriously wrong that they can't handle themselves, we want you to tow the ships back to Romulan space and let them handle it themselves. If they have no communication or any other problems you can help them with that but don't put them into a position to make it look like you have attacked and captured them. Then we can take it from there. Feerman out.
18 INT. READY ROOM
JOHNSON sits up in his chair and calls the conn.
JOHNSON
Conn, set a course for the Neutral Zone, warp six and engage.
N.D. AT CONN
Yes captain.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2
FADE IN:
19 EXT. SPACE - REDSTONE W/DAMAGED ROMULANS (OPTICAL)
JOHNSON (V.O.)
Captains Log, stardate 53042.2. We have arrived at the Romulan Neutral Zone and have found several ships drifting in space. The ships have no life signs aboard and are apparently completely inoperative.
20 INT. BRIDGE
All bridge officers are present.
MYERS
It appears as if someone has tried to transport biomatter into the engine core. (BEAT) No, its more then that. I'm picking up bio signals in mechanical parts all over the ship. In engineering, their engines, the computer core. They're everywhere. There are some more complete corpses near the bridge, they only have minimal damage, a few contusions and missing appendages.
JOHNSON
Can you determine anything further about the bodies?
Tapping at her console.
MYERS
No, there is a *LOT* of tetryon radiation blocking our sensors coming from the exposed engine core.
JOHNSON
Okay,(BEAT) Myers, Jin your with me. (BEAT)Johnson to Kliner.
KLINER
(OVER COMM)
Kliner here.
JOHNSON
Please join us in the transporter bay for an away mission.
KLINER
(OVER COMM)
Okay, I'll be there in a few seconds. Kliner out.
MYERS, JIN and JOHNSON walk over and enter the turbolift.
21 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - BRIDGE
MYERS, JIN, KLINER, JOHNSON and some security officers materialize in a TRANSPORTER EFFECT. They wander around for a while, KLINER scanning the bodies with a medical tricorder and MYERS is looking at the display monitors.
KLINER
Ah, Captain, there is something kinda strange about these bodies. They look like wild mutants.
He does not know what she is talking about.
JOHNSON
They what?
He turns around to face KLINER.
KLINER
Some of these bodies aren't even remotely Romulan. I mean, you would have a better chance in a bioscan passing off as a Romulan then they would. They're of a completely alien race altogether, and there are others the same that look like some kind of hybrids. None of the species are registered on my tricorder though.
JOHNSON
Is there anyway for you to determine where they might have come from, or at least what part of space they might come from?
KLINER
Yeah, but not here. It would be good to take some of these bodies back to the ship to do an autopsy, I might have a better chance at finding some answers for you.
He is worried about his ship.
JOHNSON
Okay (BEAT) but as long as there is no chance of any kind of contamination Keep the bodies in a bio-statis field just to be sure.
KLINER talks to the security guards and gets them to prepare the bodies to take back to the USS Redstone. JIN is studying one of the bodies which looks fused with a console.
JIN
Lucky Lieutenant Diner isn't here, you might accidentally blow up the ship.
She realizes that she might have been a little over the top.
KLINER
I wasn't that bad before was I.
JIN
Shall I record your next meeting?
JOHNSON
(to Wade)Well Lieutenant, any ideas as to what might have happened here?
MYERS
Well, they weren't attacked. There isn't enough debris outside and there doesn't seem to be enough damage to the ship to have caused anything like this.
JOHNSON
It looks to me as if they had some kind of horrible transporter accident (BEAT) but according to this, the transporters have not been initialized in over 2 days.
JOHNSON looks at his tricorder, indicating the power levels.
MYERS
Well Doctor Kliner said that there were some bodies which were not Romulan, perhaps somebody boarded the ship and tried to take it over.
JOHNSON
Maybe *EVERYONE* is dead though, and there is no major damage to any of the ships systems. The controls have all just been fused with bio-matter.
KLINER walks over to JOHNSON indicating the bodies which the security guards have moved.
KLINER
We've done here Captain, three bodies, wrapped to go.
He is starting to realize that this is how she speaks.
JOHNSON
Okay, take them back to the Redstone and do the autopsy. Commander Jin, I'd like you and Mister Diner to put up some pattern enhancers around the ship so we can scan it without all the radiation.
JIN
Yes Captain.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
22 INT. SICKBAY MORGUE
KLINER is standing over a statis drawer which has been ejected from the wall. The statis drawers have apon them the bodies of the three alien bodies which were taken from the Romulan ship. There are two other similar drawers open behind her and several in front which are closed. JOHNSON is also present, standing on the opposite side of the statis drawer.
KLINER
Captain, the results of the autopsies revealed some, rather, ugly news.
She walks over to a display and indicates an OKUDAGRAM on the screen.
KLINER
The DNA strain of the Romulan bodies look fine, and the cause of death is just a little too much exposure to the radiation coming out of the engine core.
JOHNSON
What about the other two?
They both move over to the other two open statis drawers.
KLINER
Well, that's where it goes weird. The species is undetermined, but not because of the cellular damage. The alien bodies are fully alien, we have had no contact with them before but from what's happened it looks like they know the Romulans pretty well. (BEAT) You should have your dress uniform on.
He is trying to think of a reason why she said that.
JOHNSON
For an autopsy?
She sees that her humorous methods do not work on everyone and tries one last time.
KLINER
No, (BEAT) well this is first contact after all. (BEAT) Anyway the other corpses get a little weird. The Romulan bodies are normal, the alien bodies are *ALL* died from the transporter accident, *BUT* the *OTHER* corpses, (BEAT) Well there is something very strange about them. (BEAT) It looks like the bad guys have been doing no no's with genetics, they've been altered in some way.
The doors behind them open and DINER walks in.
DINER
Captain, we have a few more clues to who our alien friends are.
JOHNSON
(To Kevin)
Go on.
DINER
Well, the engine core exploded when biomatter was transported into it. That wouldn't normally shut it down, but it was phase-shifted slightly out of normal space. The tetryon radiation is coming from the engine core. (BEAT) Our best estimate of what happened there is that the Romulans were trying to escape from the aliens, but couldn't outrun them.
(BEAT) They obviously attempted to go to warp to evade them, and they got close to the border, that's why the ships are in Federation space. (BEAT) But the aliens, the Romulans refer to as the Nilatonans, used their 'gate' and tried to board the ship.
KLINER starts to look worried after DINER says the word 'gate'.
DINER
Whatever the Nilatonans tried to do failed. (BEAT) The subspace distortions from their 'gate' interfered with the warp field around the ship, and caused the output of the gate to disperse. Then the power core exploded and it stared to vent out the excess radiation.
JOHNSON
Well at least now we have a little more to go on. (BEAT) Doctor, you were saying.
She has forgotten about her crush on DINER and is now focusing on the problem at hand.
KLINER
From what I've found, what I've just heard from Lieutenant Diner, and what I'm about to tell you, we could have one hell of a problem on our hands.
JOHNSONWhat is it?
KLINER
I found chimera cells in the second group of Nilatonan bodies. They've been virtually sticking Iconian DNA into a blender with some of their own blood to create a kind of child species.
JOHNSON is suddenly uneasy. He looks worried at the mention of the 'Iconians'.
JOHNSON
Iconians?
KLINER
It looks as if they used some ancient DNA which was probably still present in some bones or something. They just took out the DNA from it and mixed it up to create the chimera.
JOHNSON
You are sure about this.
KLINER
Yes, its sounds really bad, but it's all right there in the dead guy.
DINER
The gate the Romulans were talking about.....
KLINER cuts him off.
KLINER
Then have a *VERY* good chance of being the same gates that the Iconians used all those years ago.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3
FADE IN:
23INT. MYERS' QUARTERS
She is alone with some storage crates.
MYERS
Now, where did I put the damn thing?
Talking to herself. She scrambles around looking through the crates she tries to get them open but fails. She walks over to her desk, and opens the bottom draw, pulls out her sidearm, a hand-phaser. She walks back over to the storage crates and aims the phaser at them. The door chime goes off and she opens the door. It is MORRIS.
MORRIS
HEY! What the hell are you doing with that?
Indicating the phaser.
MYERS
I was trying to get these stupid storage crates open. I don't know why Starfleet has to seal them so tight.
MORRIS
So, you thought that you'd try to open them *WITH A PHASER*. Look, its simple, all you have to do is, unlock these things, and then slide this thing down and push it across and pull.
He tries to open the box himself but he is unable to as well.
MYERS
I thought you said it was simple.
MORRIS
Well it appears if this one has some kind of structural defect in it.
MYERSYeah right, (BEAT) Myers to Dawson.
Tapping her comm badge.
INTERCUT:
24 INT. BRIDGE
DAWSON
Dawson here, what can I do for you Lieutenant?
MYERS
(OVER COMM)
Ah, do you know how to open those luggage crates?
An unusual request but she thinks she knows why MYERS called.
DAWSON
Yeah sure. Ah, just one question, why do you need me to help you?
MYERS
(OVER COMM)
Well its, (BEAT) I,(BEAT) we can't get them open.
DAWSON
Okay, then. I'll be there in a second.
Trying to suppress her laughter.
INTERCUT:
25 INT. MYERS' QUARTERS
MORRIS and MYERS are sitting on the floor staring at the crate and listening to the computer explain how to get it open.
COMPUTER VOICE
...Then slide the secondary support wing on the lower corner of the left side and push the same wing until it reaches the juncture at the middle of the lid. Once the secondary support wing has been pushed over to the juncture, pull the lock housing down to reveal the pin. Once this pin is removed, the secondary support wing can be lifted out and the lid can be opened.
DAWSON walks in and looks at the two sitting next to the crates listening to the computer.
DAWSON
So guys, can't open your bags?
MORRIS
The computer says there's nothing wrong with the crate and we tried to open it just like it said but it doesn't work. Its obviously deformed or something.
MYERS
It's not the crate, Scott, its you.
He does not want to seem incompetent.
MORRIS
At least I didn't try to use a *PHASER* to open it.
DAWSON
Ah guys,(BEAT) you mean this crate?
She is standing over the crate with the lid in her hand.
DAWSON
Don't worry , this is about the tenth time I've had to help someone open their luggage. Its the crates, (BEAT) whoever designed them didn't write a clear enough description in the datalog and also made it to hard to open. It takes about three people just to get the lid off. (BEAT) Scott, you stand over there.
Pointing to the other crate's left corner. DAWSON moves over to the right corner and attempts to slide the support wing over. MYERS moves to the crate and grabs a hold of the lid and pulls it off.
DAWSON
See, simple.
26 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The USS Redstone is towing one of the Romulan ships with a tractor beam.
27 INT. ENGINEERING
DINER and JOHNSON are sitting at a display terminal trying to interface with the Romulan ship's computer. There are several N.D.s running around in the background completing various duties.
DINER
I'm interfacing with the Romulans computer.
There are several different images which flash across the screen then the Romulan symbol is seen along with a stream on numbers and Romulan text which is converted into English.
28 MONITOR W/ ROMULAN COMPUTER INFORMATION
DINER
Okay, the datalink is complete. Where do you want to start?
JOHNSON
Lets try the cultural and tactical databases, search for any entries containing the words 'Iconian' or 'Nilatonan'
DINER
Okay, entries are being listed, displaying now.
29 INT. ENGINEERING
DINER
It says here, that the Nilatonans and the Iconians share certain genetic markers and practically the same language.
JOHNSON
What's that bit there about appropriation of planets?
He brings up the next section on the screen.
DINER
The Nilatonans, found the Iconians after an archaeological dig on their homeworld, and apparently they became obsessed with the idea of their empire and superior technology. It says that they started appropriating planets, claiming them as their own because they had some Iconian ruins on them. The Romulans have lost their outer colonies of Sokra and Akris.
JOHNSON
There are a lot Federation planets with Iconian archaeological ruins on them. We're lucky we found this before they started trying to annex our planets.
30 INT. TRANSPORTER BAY
JIN walks in with a small case which contains scanning equipment. There is an N.D. on duty at the controls.
JIN
Ensign.
ENSIGN
Location sir?
JIN
Engineering section of the Romulan ship we are towing.
31 INT. ROMULAN SHIP - ENGINEERING SECTION
JIN materializes in a TRANSPORTER EFFECT, then pulls out a tricorder from the case which he is carrying and performs a scan.
JIN
It has been shutdown?
Looking at the tricorder.
JIN
Jin to Alvarez. (BEAT)
Tapping his comm badge.
ALVAREZ
(ON COMM)
Alvarez here, what is it commander ?
JIN
I'm over on the Romulan ship we're towing, the biomatter in the core must have caused the artificial singularity to go into a state of quantum flux.
ALVAREZ
But the core would have to be completely shutdown for that. Romulan engine cores cannot be shut down because of their artificial gravity well.
JIN
I know, there must be something particularly strange about the method of delivery. It does not seem to be a conventional transporter beam. I'm going to take a sample of the biomatter, can you transport the canister.
He opens the case of tools and attempts to get a sample of the biomatter with a tool.
32 THE ROMULAN ENGINE CORE
The core glows, there is a flash of light.
33 INT. ROMULAN SHIP, ENGINEERING SECTION
He falls to the floor, injured.
ALVAREZ
(ON COMM)
Commander? (BEAT) Commander are you there, what happened?
34 INT. BRIDGE
MORRIS, MYERS, DAWSON and some N.D.s are on duty there.
MORRIS
Commander, I just got a report from Ensign Alvarez in the science lab there is something happening on the Romulan ship.
DAWSONWhat is it?
MORRIS
The engine core is shifting in and out of phase. Its going to tear the ship apart.
She is alert, a problem has arisen.
DAWSON
On screen, (BEAT) can you deactivate the tractor beam?
MORRIS
No, the tetryon field coming from the core is creating a feedback loop along the tractor beam.
DAWSON
Dawson to Johnson.
Tapping her comm badge.
JOHNSON
(ON COMM)
What is it Commander?
DAWSON
We have a problem up here with the Romulan ship, it's going to explode.
JOHNSON
(ON COMM)
I'll be right there.
MORRIS
There is one life-form aboard.
DAWSON
Who is it?
MORRIS
Its Commander Jin.
DAWSON
Transport him directly to sickbay.
The captain emerges from the turbolift.
JOHNSON
What happened?
MORRIS
Something happened to the Romulan engine core. It started to phase in and out, (BEAT) we're getting a feedback loop from the tractor beam so we can't disengage it but if we don't it will tear the ship apart.
JOHNSON walks over to the center bridge chairs where DAWSON moves from the captains chair and JOHNSON sits down.
JOHNSON
Myers, is there anyway to interrupt the power going to the tractor beam.
MYERS
Not without blowing up the Romulan ship. That's out of the question though, the feedback from the explosion would echo through the tractor beam and blow us up as well.
An alarm goes off and the ship rocks slightly but continuously.
MORRIS
There is a ship approaching, (BEAT) Captain, (BEAT) its Nilatonan.
JOHNSON
Do we have shields?
MYERS
Not with the tractor beam still up, I have an idea. If I take a shuttle to a position between the Romulan ship and the Redstone, you will be able to destroy the Romulan ship then the feedback destroy the shuttle instead of us.
He is willing to give it a try but is concerned for her safety.
JOHNSON
Okay, go. But tell us as soon as your in position, we'll transport you before we fire at the Romulans.
MYERS leaves her post and walks over to the turbolift.
INTERCUT:
35 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The shuttle emerges from the shuttlebay and it flies over to the Romulan ship. The Nilatonan ship approaches the shuttle and fires apon it.
36 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
Myers! Report, what's happening?
37 INT. BRIDGE, VIEWSCREEN
MYERS
(on viewscreen)
They're firing at me, I'm loosing structural integrity.
The picture fades in and out interrupted periodically by static.
JOHNSON
How long until you're close enough to the Romulans?
MYERS
(on viewscreen)
About fifteen seconds, (BEAT) standby to transport.
JOHNSON
Give her some cover fire!
INTERCUT:
38 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The shuttle flies over to the Romulans while the USS Redstone fires at the Nilatonan ship as it approaches.
39 INT. BRIDGE, VIEWSCREEN
MYERS
Now! Energize
She materializes in a TRANSPORTER EFFECT.
JOHNSON
Do you have her? (BEAT)
INTERCUT:
40 TRANSPORTER BAY
N.D.
We have her Captain. (BEAT)
41 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
Red alert!, Shields up!
MORRIS
Captain, your not going to like this, (BEAT) but there are four more Nilatonans coming our way, weapons powered.
DAWSON
There is no way we can fight four ships.
MYERS emerges from the turbolift and walks to her post. The ship rocks with fire from the Nilatonans
MYERS
Shields at 98 percent.
42 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The Romulan ship explodes with the shuttle and the Nilatonans continue to fire.
43 INT. BRIDGE
MYERS
Primary hit to our starboard shields, they're at 75 percent. They are using some kind of high powered compressed tetryon beam.
JOHNSON
Take us about, fire a full spread of quantum torpedoes, pattern delta-two
MYERS
Aye sir.
The ship continues to rock with blasts. DAWSON is at the console next to the bridge chairs when it explodes She falls back, injured.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 3
ACT 4
FADE IN:
44 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
Use everything we have. Throw shuttles at them if you have to.
JOHNSON runs over to the console where DAWSON is lying.
JOHNSON
Johnson to sickbay, Doctor we need a medic on the bridge.
MYERS
Shields at 10 percent, phasers are at 2 percent
JOHNSON
What about torpedoes?
MYERS
There is only one photon tube left functioning.
He searches his mind thinking of a way to get his ship out of this situation.
JOHNSON
If we vent the warp plasma from the nacelles, is there enough power to ignite it with a low level phaser burst.
MORRIS
Yeah I think so, we have minimal phaser power but I can give it a try.
He is hopeful that his plan will work.
JOHNSON
Conn, bring us around to their port side.
MORRIS
Venting drive plasma.
MYERS
Captain, they're firing at our nacelles.
INTERCUT:
45 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The USS Redstone is traveling along the port side of the Nilatonan ships and the Nilatonans are firing at the nacelles, igniting the drive plasma and practically destroying them. Out in the background, near a sun two Romulan ships decloak and fire apon the Nilatonans.
46 INT. BRIDGE
MORRIS
Captain, there are two Romulan Ships decloaking off the starboard bough.
He is disappointed that his plan failed but now sees that his ship will prevail after all.
JOHNSON
The Romulans, (BEAT) I sure hope they haven't come for their ships.
The ship gradually stops rocking as the Romulans destroy the Nilatonans.
INTERCUT:
47 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
The Romulan ships swing around and shoot down the Nilatonan ships and they explode. Debris flies into the USS Redstone's shields.
48 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
Damage report.
MORRIS
We have lost primary propulsion, main power is off-line, shields are gone, all photon tubes are trashed and phasers are still operational at one percent. The Romulan ship is hailing us.
He notes each item in his mind.
JOHNSON
On screen. I am Captain Zachery Johnson of the Federation starship Redstone, we want to Thankyou immensely for getting us out of that situation.
49 INT. BRIDGE, VIEWSCREEN
The Romulan Captain is on the screen.
KA`VOTH
You are welcome Captain. I am Subcommander Ka`Voth of the Romulan Vessel D`kresh, I am afraid we have a little problem.
JOHNSON
What is it?
KA`VOTH
Nothing we can't fix. Please, let us escort you into our space so you may complete repairs on your ship.
50 INT. BRIDGE
He is grateful that they helped him but is now worried that there may be something else on their agenda.
JOHNSONThankyou for your generous offer but I think we better just make our way home.
51 INT. BRIDGE, VIEWSCREEN
KA`VOTH
Please Captain, I insist, we can even help you with your repairs, and you wouldn't want to run into any hostile ships, unprepared would you?
He does not want to risk any further battles.
JOHNSON
Okay then, can you tow us though, we only have maneuvering thrusters available, and I'm afraid we wouldn't be very fast.
KA`VOTH
Certainly Captain.
The viewscreen fades away and the image of the Romulan ship reappears.
52 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
I'll be in sickbay.
DAWSON joins him, she is clasping her arm.
53 INT. SICKBAY
JOHNSONDoctor, Commander Dawson needs your help.
KLINER
What happened here?
DAWSON
The console exploded.
KLINER walks over to her and starts to her.
KLINER
You have a minor laceration on your forehead, 2nd degree plasma burns and a fractured arm.
JOHNSON
How is Commander Jin doing
Walking over to the biobed.
KLINER
Nurse.
A medical officer walks over to treat DAWSON.
DAWSON joins JOHNSON next to the biobed which has IN on it.
KLINER
Well he is stable, (BEAT) he only had plasma burns, the real trouble was trying to clean all the radiation out of his system. I've gotten rid of most of it, but he still needs a couple more treatments.
JOHNSON
Can you wake him?
KLINER
Yeah, sure.
KLINER injects JIN with a stimulant in a hypospray.
JOHNSON leans over to JIN
JOHNSON
Do you have any idea what happened over there?
JIN tries to recall the events which happened.
JIN
I was scanning the Romulan ship. I saw that the engine core had been shut down, but the Romulans use an artificial quantum singularity for their engine core, once it has been activated it can not be shut down.(BEAT) I scanned the core, and I noticed that there was biomatter embedded in the matrix, I was going to take a sample of the biomatter so I could run a trace-analysis.
JOHNSON
What happened when you tried to get the sample?
JIN
I, (BEAT) I do not know. I scanned the core, but then when I tried to get the sample, there was a bright flash of light and then next thing I remembered was waking up here.
DINER walks in. KLINER is repairing DAWSON'S arm and notices him then seems distracted. her hand starts to drift off.
DAWSON
*DOCTOR* !
KLINER
Oh, yeah, what?
She is starting to get slightly annoyed.
DAWSON
My arm?
KLINER
Oh, sorry.
DAWSON
So, not only a week aboard and you're starting to check out the crew. I'm starting to wonder if what Commander Jin told me was right.
KLINER
I was just checking, (BEAT) if he was injured, and what did he tell you?
DAWSON
Yeah, (BEAT) right, (BEAT) he said that the LeSalle is now a ship where *EVERYBODY* knows your name.
She is mad that JIN has been warning everyone about her.
KLINER
What! I'm gonna kill him. Ten people, ten people that's all it was.
KLINER tries to justify her actions.
DAWSON
And how long were you stationed there?
KLINER
Oh shut up. (BEAT) Commander.
DINER walks over to JOHNSON after talking to JIN.
DINER
Captain.
JOHNSON
Yes Mister Diner.
DINER
I just wanted you to know that we are going to be stuck in Romulan spac1e for a while. Two, three days.
JOHNSON fells like it was his fault that the ship is so extensively damaged.
JOHNSON
Is the Damage that extensive?
DINER
I will have to completely replace the warp coil relays in the nacelles, and the impulse manifold is completely shot, we will be on thrusters for a while.
JOHNSON
Okay, make sure you try to get phasers, shields and warp drive back on-line first. Those are priority one in case the Romulans try something.
His communicator beeps.
JOHNSON
Johnson here.
INTERCUT:
54 INT. BRIDGE.
MORRIS
Captain, I don't know if this is anything to panic about but I thought you just might like to know that there has been a rapid increase in antilepton interference. We can't send a transmission any further than about a light-year.
JOHNSON
(on the comm)
Where is it coming from?
MORRIS
Well it's hard to tell for sure, sensors are still down, but I'm pretty sure its coming from the D`Kresh.
55 INT. SICKBAY
He doesn't know what else can go wrong.
JOHNSON
Thankyou Ensign. (BEAT) Commander, when your finished here can you join me on the bridge.
DAWSON
Yes Captain.
JOHNSON leaves for the bridge with DINER.
DAWSON
Well, now that *KEVIN* is gone, maybe you can fix my arm.
She holds her arm up, with the plasma burn still visible. JIN is standing up next to KLINER.
JIN
You should have seen her earlier. She dropped a whole stack of padds when he came in with a broken collar bone.
DAWSON
Ooh, collar bone. How'd he do that?
KLINER
He likes to play parrises squares.
DAWSON
You know, I used to play parrises squares.
KLINER
Oh, really. (BEAT) Maybe you could (BEAT)
KLINER hesitates for a moment taking in the words that JIN said to her on the Romulan ship.
DAWSON
What?
KLINER
You could teach me how to play it sometime.
DAWSON
You don't even know the guy yet, and you're already all over him.
JIN
This is nothing compared to before.
Is fearful of herself being labeled.
KLINER
Jin, if you don't stop telling everyone about my (BEAT) my (BEAT) my past then I might forget to inject you with hyronalin.
JIN
Commander Dawson, do you believe in your races tale of creation.
KLINER
Oh great, not this again.
She is slightly confused as to what is going on.
DAWSON
Well, I don't believe its how we were created but.....
KLINER interrupts her before she can say the same thing that DINER said.
KLINER
Oh, isn't that a shame Jin she doesn't believe. Now what were you saying about parrises squares.
JIN is upset at the fact that KLINER won't let her finish.
JIN
No, wait, she has not finished yet.
DAWSON is genuinely confused at what is going on.
DAWSON
What is going on here.
JIN
Lieutenant Kliner forcefully rejects my beliefs in an afterlife and religious tales of creation.
She understands now.
DAWSON
Oh okay, I think I know what's going on now. You told her about the anniversary didn't you.
She thinks that she has offended her.
KLINER
No, its not that, I....
JIN
I was telling her about what happens on the anniversary and her sense of compassion was (BEAT) less than heartwarming.
DAWSON comes off as serious but she is actually only trying to intimidate KLINER.
DAWSON
You better watch out, Jin is your superior officer you know. And there are a couple of other people on the ship who wouldn't like you too much if they heard you say that.
KLINER
Look, I didn't mean that, (BEAT) I mean I (BEAT) I don't want to be seem like I don't care its just that the idea of an afterlife to me is just (BEAT) well silly.
DAWSON and JIN share a common glance.
DAWSON
Why don't you come round to subbridge-two in a couple of weeks. The anniversary is coming up soon you know.
KLINER can't be bothered defending her position anymore she has given up.
KLINER
Okay, okay. I give up, tell me when it is and I'll be there. At least you're not talking about the LeSalle anymore.
56 INT. BRIDGE
JOHNSON
Ensign Morris, open a channel to the Romulan ship.
KA`VOTH appears on the viewscreen.
JOHNSON
Subcommander Ka`Voth, maybe you could help me with something. Those ships back there that attacked us, you don't have any idea who they were do you?
KA`VOTH
Of course not I just saw that you were in trouble and intervened.
He knows that he is lying but he needs to find out why.
JOHNSON
That was very noble of you. Risking a war , (BEAT) especially with a species you claim you do not even know.
KA`VOTH
Yes, well that's what the Romulan people are like, they are very generous and dignified.
JOHNSON
Well, being so generous and dignified, maybe you could give me some information about those Romulan ships we were towing for you.
KA`VOTH
Ah yes, I have been meaning to thank you for that Captain. It was merely an accident. You see we are testing out a new propulsion system and it just happened to fail.
JOHNSON is absolutely sure that some kind of covert Romulan plan is being undertaken.
JOHNSON
It didn't look like any propulsion accident to me, the ships were highly damaged.
KA`VOTH
Yes well that is the price for progress. I hope Captain, you are not insinuating that I am a liar.
He knows he is being patronized.
JOHNSON
No not at all, I just find it all a little strange.
KA`VOTH does not want to explain himself, JOHNSONalready knows too much.
KA`VOTH
Yes well maybe you should catch up on your engineering skills. (BEAT) If that is all I have some duties that I must attend to.
JOHNSON
Ah, yes. What kind of duties if I may ask ?
KA`VOTH
Nothing which concerns you captain. D`Kresh out.
57 INT. ROMULAN SHIP
KA`VOTH cuts communication with JOHNSON and taps a few buttons on his terminal. The screen lights up again, this time with the face of a Romulan.
KA`VOTH
They know.
BAK`VUL
Do they know all?
KA`VOTH
Enough.
BAK`VUL
Are you able to execute beta-nine without incident?
KA`VOTH
Yes their ship has been highly damaged.
BAK`VUL
Very good.
The screen goes black and KA`VOTH sits back in his chair, looking out the window.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 4
ACT 5
FADE IN:
58 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) Hour #2
The USS Redstone is being towed by the Romulans. There is a Romulan space station in the far background.
JOHNSON (V.O.)
Captains log, supplemental. We have been towed by the Romulans to what looks like a deep-space station. We still don't have any defenses if they choose to attack, and our sensors are still mostly off-line. The Romulans have not yet done anything overly suspicious, but considering we are defenseless, (BEAT) I believe it is just a question of *WHEN* they will act.
59 INT. BRIDGE
All bridge officers are present along with some N.D.s.
DAWSON
That dampening field still there?
MORRIS
Well, it's kind of hard to tell without full sensors but from these readings, it would be a pretty good guess to say it is.
DAWSON starts to get paranoid. She knows what the Romulans are like and what is going to happen next.
DAWSON
I don't like it. The Romulans say they're performing propulsion experiments, they have dead aliens scattered all over their ships. And now we are in their space, with no weapons, no communications and no defenses.
JOHNSON
Well don't look at me. Its not like we had much choice. If we stayed there. the Romulans or the Nilatonans would have probably blown us up. At least this way we have had a little longer to try and complete some repairs.
The ship slightly rocks.
DAWSON
Lieutenant, what happened?
MYERS
The Romulans have deactivated the tractor beam.
MORRIS
They're hailing us.
JOHNSON
On screen.
60 INT. BRIDGE, VIEWSCREEN
The picture shifts from the Romulan station to KA`VOTH.
KA`VOTH
Captain, you will shut down your systems and prepare to be boarded.
JOHNSON knew this would be coming but he is still shocked.
JOHNSON
*WHAT*! (BEAT) Why?
KA`VOTH has to have a reason for his actions.
KA`VOTH
You have violated our space and destroyed our ships.
JOHNSON
What the hell are you are you talking about?
He changes the subject.
KA`VOTH
If you do not surrender your ship will be destroyed. (LONG BEAT)
He knows there is nothing that can be done.
JOHNSON
Well considering that we are defenseless and are deep into Romulan space, we don't have much of a choice do we!
KA`VOTH
Standby, a boarding party will arrive shortly.
KA`VOTH cuts the transmission. The screen goes black and then the image of the Romulan station reappears.
61 INT. BRIDGE
DAWSON
Well (BEAT) what do we do now?
JOHNSON
The only thing we can do.(BEAT) co-operate.
TIME CUT TO:
62 INT. BRIDGE
The Romulans, who are wielding disrupters round up the bridge crew and walk them into the turbolifts.
TIME CUT TO:
63 INT. SICKBAY
KLINER and her medical staff are round up and taken outside.
TIME CUT TO:
64 INT. ENGINEERING
DINER and his engineering staff are taken by the Romulans.
TIME CUT TO:
65 INT. ROMULAN PRISON INSIDE THE SPACE STATION
MORRIS is sitting down on the floor near MYERS.
MORRIS
This is not how I pictured my first posting.
FADE TO:
66 EXT. SPACE ROMULAN SPACE STATION (OPTICAL)
The camera pulls out and we see the USS Redstone and the Romulan Ship D`kresh.
TO BE CONTINUED...
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT 5
STORY BY: CHRIS P. VELLA
TELEPLAY BY: CHRIS P. VELLA
EDITED BY: CHRIS P. VELLA & DAVID INACIO
PRE-PRODUCTION EDITING BY DAVID INACIO & CHRIS P. VELLA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: CHRIS P. VELLA
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR: CHRIS P. VELLA
SCENIC ART SUPERVISOR / TECHNICAL CONSULTANT: CHRIS P. VELLA
CGI GENERATED BY: SHADE RENDER-CTV
AIRDATE: SEPTEMBER 7th 1998
The persons and events in this production are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional.
Copyrightc MCMXCIIX BY QRISCOMM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED