"Departure II"
ACT EIGHT
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
There’s less discipline on the Shadow, two members of the pirate crew are playing some sort of Romulan card game with naked alien women on the cards (ever wanted to see a hot Tellarite sow? Here’s your chance.)
VYRX is in the commander chair reading a primitive book in Reman, he’s an educated man/alien/space vampire.
A small blip shows up on the sensor display but nobody notices.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
The Shadow is getting bigger and bigger on the view screen.
SARA looks concerned.
SARA
Should we be this close?
DECKER (worried)
No, actually we shouldn’t.
SARA taps her comm.
SARA
Nelson to away team, where are we on that ambush?
CUT TO INT. PIRATE PLANET SURFACE-DAY
The Away team is out of their shuttle and running like crazy up a black sand dune. The sky has turned black as a huge dust storm kicks up ash and black sand.
FROST is in front wearing an away team over coat.
FROST
We landed as close as we could but I need two more minutes.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
CU on SARA
SARA
I don’t have two more minutes, Lieutenant.
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
There’s a small beep from the sensor console. One of the pirates puts down his dirty magazine (Space Playboy perhaps? “The Girls of Krios Prime”?).
He starts typing on the sensor console.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE COMPOUND-DAY
The Away team slides down the other side of the sand dune, then the marines start “army crawling” towards small pile of rocks just a few feet from the compound front entrance.
FROST and NERI crawl on their hands and knees instead of army crawling, it’s not as graceful.
Everybody makes it to their position; WOLFE flips open a pair of techno-binoculars. FROST taps his comm.
FROST (whispering)
Nelson we are in position. (to WOLFE) How many on the gate?
WOLFE frowns.
WOLFE (whispering)
A lot. We should’ve brought more people.
Sure enough, a shot of the gate reveals dozens of guards walking the perimeter of the compound.
FROST shrugs.
FROST
Too late now.
WOLFE makes a series of quick combat hand gestures to his men: “Two on the left, two on the right, neutralize defenders.” Two unnamed MARINES go right, CALLAHAN and PROVIX head left.
CALLAHAN and PROVIX approach three of the guards. PROVIX quietly smashes one guard in the face with the butt of his rifle then knocks the other one out with his elbow. The third guard tries to scream for help but suddenly CALLAHAN appears behind him and puts him into a sleeper hold.
The both take cover and CALLAHAN starts charging up her P.A.C.
The other two MARINES dispatch their own targets then take similar positions.
WOLFE’S face turns cold, just like during the fight on Feron Prime.
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
The PIRATE at the sensor console turns to VYRX
SENSOR PIRATE
Master Vyrx, I have a proximity alarm from a large debris field.
VYRX looks up from his book, curiosity piqued.
VYRX
Bring us about, I wish to see it.
The image on the screen starts to turn…
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
SARA raises her hand.
SARA
Wait for it.
On the view screen, the Shadow is turning towards them…
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE PLANET-DAY
Colliding CU’S:
…CALLAHAN aims the P.A.C. at the front gate.
…FROST tightens his grip on his phaser.
....WOLFE looks down the scope of his disruptor rifle.
…NERI cups her hands over her ears.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
Medium wide shot, SARA gives the order.
SARA
Now!
DECKER’S fingers dance across the keyboard and the lights on the bridge go to full.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE COMPOUND-DAY
The various pirates and scoundrels watch as barrels and barrels of Romulan ale materialize in the courtyard as if by magic. The pleasantly surprised criminals start grabbing the barrels, fights break out and the disorder starts to spread.
The guards on the walls leave their posts.
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
VYRX’S eyes go wide as the fully powered Nelson appears against the black of space on this viewscreen.
VYRX
EVASIVE MANUEV-
He doesn’t finish his sentence as the Nelson fires two good torpedo hits and shakes the Shadow like an abused child.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE COMPOUND-DAY
CALLAHAN pulls the trigger on the P.A.C. and a beam of green energy strikes the front gate causing a massive explosion. The dust clears and where there used to be a wall, there’s now a big hole, a lot of dead pirates, and WOLFE’S away team charging into the compound.
The rest of the compound comes alive as KOLOTH’S pirate army focuses on the attackers.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE PLANET ORBIT-SPACE
The Nelson unleashes two more torpedoes at the Shadow but the enemy vessel’s hull holds fast.
The Nelson turns about just as the Shadow warms up it’s engines.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
Tight on DECKER.
DECKER
Well, they’re chasing us.
The ship shakes.
DECKER
And they sound pissed, sir.
Tight on SARA, she’s got an idea.
SARA
Take us towards the sun, Mr. Decker.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE PLANET ORBIT-SPACE
The Shadow gives chase, firing at the Nelson’s engineering hull.
The Nelson starts heading into the center of the solar system.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
Tight on SARA
SARA
Pour on the speed, Mr. Walsh. I need every spare kilometer.
CUT TO INT. ENGINE ROOM-SPACE
Everybody’s running around Engineering, trying to squeeze every last bit of juice out of the engine.
WALSH is supervising, sort of.
WALSH
Aye, aye. (to Engineers) You heard the lady!
CUT TO INT. PIRATE COMPOUND-DAY
The pirates and Marines are in a heavy fire fight. One of the Marines takes a disruptor bolt to the chest and PROVIX drags her to safety. Behind a burned out piece of space craft hull, NERI’S performing first aid on CALLAHAN as PROVIX brings the wounded Marine over.
PROVIX
Got another one, Doc!
NERI
Damn it, would you people please stop getting shot!
CALLAHAN (sarcastic)
Sorry for inconveniencing you! (looks around) Anyone seen the Major?
At the center of the courtyard, WOLFE is in the middle of the fight and he’s like a human buzzsaw, carving through four or five pirates at once. One of the pirates tries to shoot WOLFE when he isn’t looking but WOLFE is too fast for him and fires his own disruptor first. Two more pirates try to grab him from behind but they don’t stand a chance. WOLFE shoulder throws one, then roundhouse kicks the other one in the face.
CALLAHAN, PROVIX, and NERI are watching with silent awe.
Tight on CALLAHAN and PROVIX
CALLAHAN
If it’s the last thing I do…I will have sex with that man.
PROVIX
Seek help, Harriet.
On the other side of the courtyard, FROST firing his phaser at every pirate he can see. He looks up on the roof of a nearby building. It’s KOLOTH, roaring with excitement and shooting some sort of repeating phase rifle into the courtyard.
He locks eyes with FROST, a silent challenge is accepted. KOLOTH disappears across the other side of the roof.
FROST runs into the building after him.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE SUN-SPACE
The Nelson races as close to the sun as possible…getting closer and closer to the sun’s corona.
The Shadow is in hot pursuit.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
Tight on SARA
SARA
Closer, Mr. Decker.
The ship starts to shake. The bridge crew starts to sweat. It’s getting very, very hot.
DECKER
Commander…
SARA
We’ll be fine. They call it a Constellation-class for a reason.
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE SUN-SPACE
The Nelson is dangerously close to the sun, the paint is starting to peel on the nacelles.
The Shadow pulls away from the chase.
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
Tight on VYRX
VYRX
Where are they? Damn it, find them!
Silence, nothing on the viewscreen but the burning light of the sun. VYRX’S squints, his Reman eyes can’t take the light.
There’s a slight disturbance in the sun’s corona. Could it be?
CUT TO EXT. PIRATE SUN-SPACE
The Nelson comes screaming out of the corona, all weapons firing.
Torpedoes and phasers blast into the side of the Shadow.
CUT TO INT. NELSON BRIDGE-SPACE
The bridge crew is beaming with pride. SARA looks like she’s gonna pop a vest button.
DECKER
Their shields are down, they’re venting plasma, and we’re still at full power.
SARA
Open a channel and demand their surrender. (thinks a moment) Be rude.
CUT TO INT. SHADOW BRIDGE-SPACE
VYRX growls in frustration.
He knows he’s beaten.
VYRX
Get us out of here.
HELM PIRATE
But Vyrx-
VYRX
NOW!
CUT TO EXT. SHADOW SUN-SPACE
The Shadow turns tail and runs as the Nelson does a quick victory lap around the sun.
CUT TO INT. PIRATE COMPOUND-SPACE
FROST is inside the pirate compound main building searching through each room for KOLOTH. He’s holding the phaser out in front of him, looking. Out of nowhere, KOLOTH jumps from the rafters right on top of FROST’S back.
He’s raining punches all over FROST and in the struggle, FROST loses his phaser. FROST fights back, swinging his fist into KOLOTH’S jaw. They struggle on the ground as KOLOTH pulls a knife and grabs FROST by the throat.
KOLOTH
I’m under orders not to kill you, human. But I think I shall indulge myself just this once.
The knife is dangerously close to FROST’S neck now, almost there.
FROST
Is that what you did to Danny? “Indulge yourself”?
FROST is slowly reaching for his phaser.
KOLOTH starts laughing.
KOLOTH
“Danny”? You mean the worm on your ship? That was not my doing-
Before he can finish his sentence, WEI bursts into the room holding the weapon he stole from the guard. He fires two bursts from the weapon and KOLOTH is vaporized instantly, screaming in pain as he fades from the universe.
There’s an awkward moment. WEI doesn’t know how much FROST knows. FROST is unsure of where’s WEI’S loyalties lie. FROST stares at WEI, suspicious.
WEI
He was going to…hey! I saved your fuckin’ life buddy. You owe me a fucking thank you.
FROST nods.
The loose protons and energy remnants that were once KOLOTH OATHBREAKER float to the floor. Only the silver skull ring remains.
FROST limps towards the door until WEI puts his arm around FROST, helping him walk.
FROST (begrudgingly)
Thanks.
In the courtyard outside, the Marines have the situation under control. Pirates are on the ground, their hands behind their head. Some of the less brave ones are running for their lives outside the compound.
TIGHT on PROVIX, CALLAHAN, and their prisoner: HADAR BARAN.
BARAN
You can’t do this to me! I have rights!
PROVIX
He’s got rights?
CALLAHAN
Yeah, he’s got the right to shut the fuck up.
Continue on to ACT NINE...