STARCALLED
Book 1, Chapter 8: Through The Jump Relay
EXT. PROMENADE - REGA 1
3 cycles ago. In the core systems.
A hatchway slides open. A colonial officer, dressed in an immaculate uniform crosses the promenade of the Royal Colonial Palace. It’s Deputy Director Narn.
Three of the planet’s moons drift across a clear green sky.
Rega 1, fourth planet of the Ytran System. Central homeworld of the Colony.
INT. PALACE CORRIDOR
A door opens. Narn enters the palace. Holo-portraits of former queens line the walls of a cavernous corridor, describing a history spanning thousands of cycles across thousands of galaxies.
DIRECTOR TETZI (O.S.): Your highness --
QUEEN (O.S.): No, and I will hear no more of this. I have given you my every confidence, and every time I am left to wonder what benefit it has brought to our people and the systems we govern.
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Narn waits by the door.
DIRECTOR TETZI: I’m not sure you grasp what it is we face. The Arkor may be dormant --
QUEEN: Extinct! The Arkor have been extinct! For nearly three cycles.
DIRECTOR TETZI: There are things worse than the Arkor. We must prepare our people. Even the peoples over which we simply govern.
QUEEN: Do not suppose it is a simple thing -- to govern, director. I understand these have been difficult cycles for you to endure, director. Yet you have endured them. We have endured them. I could never do this without relying on your guidance and wisdom as I do, however I must also consider the guidance of the High Council and also the wisdom of Central Command.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Counsel borne of fear is a pale substitute for wisdom. An intelligence -- a true, synthetic intelligence is in our grasp! It would be foolish to waste this opportunity!
QUEEN: The High Council has discussed your proposals, director, however… they fear the circumstances under which we acquired this intelligence may again become a matter of public concern.
DIRECTOR TETZI: As you said, your highness: the Arkor are gone. The Colony has nothing more to fear from a dead species.
QUEEN: The Arkor were far from the only civilization to be devastated. Often we are reminded that wounds suffered sometimes never truly heal.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Humans were a deficient species, struggling to comprehend powers entirely beyond them!
QUEEN: Our ‘intelligence’ suggests otherwise. I was afraid that I had lost you forever, Arla. When the relay shattered and you… I mourned you for over a cycle. We all did. And then you returned… Yet I mourn you still. I never asked to wear the crown. It should be your burden. It was never -- ...but planets turn. I’m approving your request. I will authorize five new stations across the frontier at the most strategic positions you decide. As far as the High Council needs to know, our goal is to increase colonial influence and stability across the uncharted systems by peaceful means. The more systems we unify, the more resources we have to face any threat. Keep testing the intelligence. You report everything to me. It never leaves your station without my direct approval.
DIRECTOR TETZI: I accept those terms.
QUEEN: You’ll destroy it, if I so order you.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Of course, your highness.
QUEEN: It has a name?DIRECTOR TETZI: Instance 6-1PC.
QUEEN: I was told it referred to itself.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Rider.
QUEEN: Rider. This is dangerous territory. I am taking a considerable risk for you, Arla.
DIRECTOR TETZI: I won’t forget it, your highness.
QUEEN: No, you won’t. Now, what about the human?
The director scowls.
INT. COLONIAL BATTLECRUISER - COMMAND DECK
Now, in orbit over Edari, the colonial Director Arla Tetzi stands over the command deck of her battlecruiser. Edari’s red light is reflected across her six eyes.
COLONIAL: The relay aperture is shut, ma’am. The ship is gone.
The deputy director approaches from behind, dressed in a pristine uniform.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Bio-signatures?
COLONIAL: Two -- one zaridian, one… human.
Tetzi stares ahead with an impenetrable expression.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Director…
DIRECTOR TETZI: Take us into the station.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Yes ma’am.
INT. SPACE STATION - COMMAND DECK
Aboard the colonial space station, Captain Mor Landris stares out the forward windows. The massive colonial battlecruiser adjusts its course and drifts slowly toward the station.
INT. STATION HANGAR
Edari shines brightly against a backdrop of twinkling stars. Captain Landris stands before the ranks of the 443rd Colonial Fleet Infantry.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: The strength of the Colony comes not from the Queen -- for she is our purpose. It comes not from the might of our forces, nor the extent of our reach. These exist merely as proof that our course is true. That our cause, just. The strength of the Colony comes from the soldiers that form its ranks. From the minds that guide the trajectory of our civilization. From the soldiers that fight, serve, and sacrifice for the sake of our people. Of our galaxy. In the name of our Queen.
Rows of caskets are arranged at the open bay of the hangar.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Those we have lost will be remembered. Their sacrifices secure a vision of a better, unified galaxy. Their sacrifices build the foundation of peace.
The nameplate of one casket reads: Officer Delerev. Beside it, Officer Drejen.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: We honor those who have served the Queen.
Elona lowers her head.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: We suffer these wounds so that the citizens of the galaxy may be spared. And we commit now these wounds to the beyond-all -- proof that we have paid for peace.
Kron closes his eyes.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: And that we will always pay for peace.
Tears roll down his cheeks. The colonials of the 443rd turn and salute.
One by one, the caskets are ejected from the station and into the asteroid field over Edari.
INT. STATION CORRIDOR
A doorway slides open, and Director Arla Tetzi marches through, flanked by Deputy Director Narn and a contingent of colonial commandos.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Negative activity on the jump relay so far, ma’am. We’ll soon have their position.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Good. Fetch Tygg.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Yes ma’am.
Elsewhere: Lt. Saranus Kron stalks down a station corridor, tarsal claw clasped over the knife wound in his side.
SOLDIERS: Sir. Lieutenant.
SARANUS KRON: Carry on.
Kron stares ahead.
INT. LIFT
Kron steps into the lift.
SARANUS KRON: Deck 19.
The lift shudders.
INT. MEDICAL BAY
Acting Chief Science Officer Elona Zoren sits atop a bed in the medical bay.
NURSE: Doctor, we’ll need your authorization to release the patients to volunteer care.
DR. TORRELL: Yeah, of course. Let me know when the hematic analytics come back on the next patients.
NURSE: Yes sir.
The doctor turns to Elona.
DR. TORRELL: Ma’am, you’re lucky to be here. I expect you to make a full recovery but you may exhibit some aural deterioration or gland dysfunction --
ELONA ZOREN: Of course.
Medical machines whir and hum around them.
DR. TORRELL: Alright, well, I have orders to inform you that you have orders to meet with Director Tetzi. Ma’am, I’m placing you under strict order --
A medical team revives a nearby patient.
DR. TORRELL: -- to take a mandatory leave of duty for three solar days. That includes lab work.
ELONA ZOREN: Thank you, doctor, but there’s hardly a lab left to work in.
DR. TORRELL: If you felt it prudent to remain here under observation for some time, I would have to agree. Otherwise, when you feel ready, you’re clear to be discharged. Stay as long as you need --
NURSE: Doctor? We got the lab work back and there are some discrepancies in the hematic analytics, I thought you might want to take a look yourself, sir.
DR. TORRELL: Excuse me, chief.
He leaves. Elona sighs.
ELONA ZOREN: Acting chief.
She catches sight of Commander Strakker Tygg. He stares back.
NURSE: So you’ll need to take another dose every three creks while you’re on duty, and the ordinicol before rest.
COMMANDER TYGG: Yeah.
The medical technician steps away, and Tygg approaches Elona.
COMMANDER TYGG: Zoren.
ELONA ZOREN: Commander.
COMMANDER TYGG: How are you feeling?
ELONA ZOREN: I’ll survive. And you?COMMANDER TYGG: I’ll survive, too. Nice work on Edari. I mean it. I do, I really do mean it.
ELONA ZOREN: I abandoned my team and the lab was destroyed. It doesn’t feel like a success, Tygg.
COMMANDER TYGG: You prioritized the mission. And when you take orders from Tetzi, you prioritize the mission. With Tetzi…
The door opens. Deputy Director Narn enters the med bay.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Commander Tygg.
COMMANDER TYGG: Sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Acting Chief Zoren.
ELONA ZOREN: Sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: With me, commander.
COMMANDER TYGG: Yes sir. (to Elona) Be careful.
Tygg follows Narn out. Elona stares at the door.
INT. STATION CORRIDOR
The two colonials walk down the corridor.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: The director is expecting to receive your full report immediately, commander.
COMMANDER TYGG: Yes, of course, sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: What’s the status of the comm relay?COMMANDER TYGG: It was destroyed. With a complication.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: The communications officer? Not a concern. With Senator Oo’than dead and the Imperial Army in open revolt, we can finally make our move. Thanks to your heroic actions, commander.
Tygg glances out the corridor window. The red planet turns below.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Or should I say, captain?
Tygg meets his gaze.
COMMANDER TYGG: It’s ready?Deputy Director Narn flashes a smug grin.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Protocol first. Come along.
INT. DECK 19
In Officer Delerev’s lab -- Corvan vents. Kron scans for evidence.
Investigation officers study the scene, adjusting theoretical holographic reconstructions of the colonial’s assassination.
CORVAN: Much of the damage was caused by a colonial pulse pistol.
SARANUS KRON: Did they say anything to you before they got onto the ship?Corvan looks at the lieutenant.
CORVAN: I was invited to defect from colonial service.
SARANUS KRON: Why didn’t you go?
Corvan vents.
CORVAN: I am honorable. I have made a deal with your captain, and my word is my bond.
SARANUS KRON: And they didn’t give any indication of where they might be going?
CORVAN: No. They will return to Veristan, but they will not travel directly.
SOLDIER: Lieutenant?
SARANUS KRON: What is it?
SOLDIER: Sir, we found this inside; it was jammed into the comm relay.
The soldier hands his officer a blade.
SARANUS KRON: I’ll take care of it.
Corvan’s optic sensors focus on Kron. The colonial meets his gaze.
SARANUS KRON: It’s one of Dorgo Konidarian’s daggers. We confiscated it planetside. It was in the vault on Deck 61.
CORVAN: You believe this to be the work of Konidarian?
SARANUS KRON: It fits, doesn’t it? Osborn and Konidarian escape the holding cells on 61, raid the vault, track down Delerev here to cover their contact.
Corvan vents.
SARANUS KRON: They couldn’t have done this without help. Colonial help.
SOLDIER: Lieutenant. We got the ballistics analysis back from the lab. The data is ready for you to review.
SARANUS KRON: Have they matched the energy signature yet?
SOLDIER: No sir, that analysis is still pending.
Kron turns to Corvan.
SARANUS KRON: The director’s already mobilized garrison across all the jump vectors they could’ve taken. It’s just a matter of time, now.
His comms chirp.
COMMAND: (comms) Command to Lt. Kron.
SARANUS KRON: Kron here.
COMMAND: (comms) They’re ready for you, sir.
SARANUS KRON: Affirmative, I’m on my way. Kron out.
Corvan vents.
CORVAN: Lieutenant. When I encountered the prisoners, neither was armed with a pulse pistol.
INT. OBSERVATION DECK
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Lieutenant Saranus Kron, second officer of the 443rd Colonial Fleet Infantry. Graduated 32nd in his officer class with no academic distinctions. Field commendation for heroic service on Kelter.
Kron stands before a military tribunal.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Lieutenant, you are called before this board simply to provide information regarding recent developments within the Gerlian System. You may consider this a formal debriefing on Edari. Standard procedure in the core systems. Do you understand?
SARANUS KRON: Yes sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Before we begin, is there anything you wish to share with this board?
SARANUS KRON: This is a waste of time. We should be pursuing the prisoners.
The tribunal begins to protest.
SARANUS KRON: Every micrek we waste in committee allows --
Kron glances at Captain Landris.
JUDGE: Lieutenant, are you insinuating that the director’s arrival allowed the prisoners to escape?
SARANUS KRON: I believe… they had nowhere to go. If they planned to escape through the jump relay, they would’ve activated it themselves. We could’ve had them.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Lieutenant, do you believe if you had been in command of the operation, you could have captured the prisoners?
Kron glances at Landris.
SARANUS KRON: I… I couldn’t say, sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: You were the officer in command of the station during the first attacks on Edari, correct?
SARANUS KRON: Yes sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Yet you abandoned your post at the first opportunity, violating your orders and duty as station commander, electing instead to travel planetside and engage a threat which you failed to assess adequately. Resulting in further unnecessary losses of colonial resources. How do you respond?
SARANUS KRON: I acted as I saw fit to protect and recover Captain Landris.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Is acting contrary to your direct orders a habit you’ve developed under the captain’s guidance, Lt. Kron?SARANUS KRON: All of my field reports are available for review at your convenience, Deputy Director.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: I assure you this board has reviewed all of your field reports in great detail, lieutenant, and found the contents to be of some concern. Perhaps it may interest you more to volunteer information regarding your initial capture and handling of the human prisoner, Osborn? You are aware that humans are a protected species, lieutenant?
Kron’s mandibles tense.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Or, perhaps, you’d care to explain your curious decision to omit from your report your discovery and acquisition of an unlicensed communications relay from upper Edarian orbit?
Kron’s face falls.
Now: Elona stands before the tribunal.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Dr. Elona Zoren, Acting Chief Science Officer of the 443rd Colonial Fleet Infantry. Graduated 2nd in her class with honors. Commendations for achievements in xenobiology, organic technology, and theoretical intelligence. You were one of three graduates selected for a position at the Drebulan Institute, Dr. Zoren, yet you requested a transfer to the 443rd.
ELONA ZOREN: Yes sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: And how have you found your assignment?ELONA ZOREN: Eventful, sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Why did you elect for a field assignment, doctor? You could’ve had a successful research career at any core system institute, yet here you stand.
ELONA ZOREN: I wanted to work with the Rider module. With Instance 6-1PC. To develop the intelligence for strategic colonial application.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: And how would you qualify your successes in that regard, doctor?ELONA ZOREN: Ongoing, sir.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: A review of your recent field report raises a number of questions, doctor. This board would like to determine for what reason you field deployed Instance 6-1PC.
ELONA ZOREN: I was given orders to, sir.
DIRECTOR TETZI: You were not ordered to lose control of the intelligence, Dr. Zoren. Your gross incompetence has not only jeopardized our diplomatic mission here, but our civilization’s effort to understand life.
ELONA ZOREN: Yes ma’am.
DIRECTOR TETZI: A behavioral pattern is emerging among your officers, Captain Landris.
Elona glances at Captain Landris, then at the director. Tetzi stares directly at her.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Is it ready?ELONA ZOREN: Ma’am?DIRECTOR TETZI: The intelligence. It’s been in combat twice.
ELONA ZOREN: I believe so, director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Make your preparations for integration. And we have what we need from the human?
ELONA ZOREN: Yes ma’am. We developed a neural pattern image of Commander Osborn’s brainwaves while he was aboard the station, ma’am.
Tetzi grins.
INT. STATION CORRIDOR
A door slides open, and ranking colonial officers step through.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Go to the ship.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: Right away, director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: My sympathy for the losses the 443rd has suffered here, captain, however everything has proceeded according to plan.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Of course, director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: What about Edari?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: The prince is safe aboard the station. The council is dissolved and the Imperial Army has seized control over Bisson. They’ve come under the leadership of one Sub-Commander Stell. Ma’am, I believe I have an operative among my crew who was in contact with the zaridian assassins. Using the comm relay to coordinate with them in secret.
DIRECTOR TETZI: For what purpose?CAPTAIN LANDRIS: To jeopardize the peace treaty. To destabilize Edari. Perhaps someone with sympathies to the Empire.
DIRECTOR TETZI: And you have evidence?CAPTAIN LANDRIS: The relay and the data we recovered were destroyed during the escape, but their existence all but validates the theory. There is a possibility that the data may still exist within Instance 6-1PC’s memory…
DIRECTOR TETZI: I’ll be assuming command of this station, captain. If there is a traitor among you, we’ll see that they are justly rewarded.
INT. LIFT
Numbers tick down on a deck indicator.
SARANUS KRON: We can’t trust Tygg.
ELONA ZOREN: You think he was working with the zaridians? You saw him kill Dorgo.
SARANUS KRON: Yeah, I saw it. The way he wanted me to.
Elona’s attention is on Kron.
SARANUS KRON: He probably killed Senator Oo’than, too. Osborn and the other Konidarian never knew who Dorgo’s contact was.
ELONA ZOREN: But why would Tygg betray the Colony?SARANUS KRON: What if he didn’t? The captain keeps him so compartmentalized, I don’t know what he does for the Colony half the time.
ELONA ZOREN: What a grekking…
SARANUS KRON: How bad would a court martial be?
ELONA ZOREN: Can’t be worse than staying at Edari… Look, Tetzi didn’t come here because of Edari. Rotonken Base has been developing something special for the past three cycles. It’s a ship. With… experimental technologies.
SARANUS KRON: For Rider.
ELONA ZOREN: Rider’s only a part of it.
INT. DECK 74
The lift doors open. They walk down an empty corridor.
ELONA ZOREN: Lamphredite is about to become a very valuable galactic resource.
SARANUS KRON: But the Colony hasn’t shown any interest in lamphredite.
ELONA ZOREN: All it took was the initial sample we sent back. Our counterparts at Rotonken refined it and developed a drive. It’s still in the experimental phase but from what I’ve read, they’ve already installed it on a ship.
SARANUS KRON: What kind of drive?
ELONA ZOREN: A jump drive. Ship scale.
SARANUS KRON: I thought that wasn’t possible.
ELONA ZOREN: It wasn’t. Until they did it.
SARANUS KRON: You’re talking about a ship that can navigate jump space without using a relay.
ELONA ZOREN: Tetzi is talking about an entire fleet of them. What do you know about Rider?SARANUS KRON: What do I need to know?
INT. DECK 74 - CRYO VAULT
The door slides open and valves vent pressure in the cryo vault on Deck 74. An icy fog hangs in the air.
ELONA ZOREN: The director had a private contractor develop the facility before the 443rd was ever stationed here.
SARANUS KRON: How do you know about this?ELONA ZOREN: Captain Landris brought me here with the director… Chief Tava oversaw this project before he was… reassigned.
A valve releases behind them. Kron freezes, his eyes wide.
A human woman, dressed in a Terran Navy scientist’s uniform sleeps in suspended animation. Kron’s mandibles tense.
SARANUS KRON: What the grek is this? Who is this? What is this, Elona? Who is this? I thought Osborn was the last human!
ELONA ZOREN: No! No, I mean, he might be the only other one, I don’t know. Rotonken Base has been tracking his activity for the last half cycle. But they’ve had her since the war.
SARANUS KRON: Grek! That was six cycles ago! Who is she?
ELONA ZOREN: Her name is Foster. She was part of some top secret human R&D operation. Technology somehow more advanced than anything the Colony had.
SARANUS KRON: What the grek. Why is she still in cryo?
ELONA ZOREN: Kron, they’ve been trying to reactivate her for cycles but there’s serious neural degradation from the cryo process. We’re hoping to use Osborn’s neural patterns to reverse the damage and revive her.
SARANUS KRON: We?
ELONA ZOREN: Kron.
SARANUS KRON: Director Tetzi. Dralk! Grekking dralk, Elona. What the grek does all this have to do with Rider?
ELONA ZOREN: Rider isn’t colonial technology.
The two officers stare at each other, the stasis tube between them.
SARANUS KRON: Does Rider know that?
INT. COMMAND DECK
Director Tetzi slips onto the station command deck, Captain Landris at her side. The command staff salute.
DIRECTOR TETZI: As you were.
COMMAND: Captain, Sub-Commander Stell is broadcasting from the temple relay.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Open channels.
COMMAND: Stand by.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Summon Prince Ol-ken, if he’s fit.
COMMAND: Yes sir.
DIRECTOR TETZI: That won’t be necessary, captain.
A shimmering image emerges from the console.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: (comms) [speaks in a native holkari language]
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: This… this appears to be Sub-Commander Stell.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Why aren’t the translator probes working?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: The holkari are still a wary species. Only a few were willing to accept the probes, and our own linguistic modules aren’t developed enough to translate their dialects beyond our primary.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Do we have any way to translate the transmission?CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Our communications officer was… unfortunately killed during the escape. However, I’ve called for the prince --
DIRECTOR TETZI: Allowing the holkari to communicate directly is too great a security risk, captain. We’ll have to assume their intentions remain hostile.
Captain Landris turns to the director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Command to Deputy Director Narn.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: (comms) Receiving you, director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Target the signal source.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: (comms) Understood, ma’am.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Director…?
Outside the command deck’s forward windows, Director Tetzi’s battlecruiser drifts away from the station and into the asteroid field.
The command staff glance at each other, then at Captain Landris.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Director?
INT. STATION CORRIDOR
Dr. Torrell escorts the wounded holkari royalty, Prince Ol-ken, walk to the command deck. He catches sight of the battlecruiser outside the window.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Finally, Captain Landris summons me. I fear his inaction has brought more pain to my people. Perhaps your ‘director’ will be more...
DR. TORRELL: Perhaps…
The doctor glances out the window and spots the battlecruiser aligning itself broadside with Edari.
INT. COMMAND DECK
The bridge is silent.
COMMS: Station command, we are in position.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Commence bombardment.
EXT. BISSON
Red clouds bloom over Edari. The storm has passed. Pillars of acidic light draw out the alien beauty of the city of Bisson.
A distant crack rings out high in the atmosphere.
Massive pulse blasts rip through the city, cascading explosions and obliterating structures.
INT. COMMAND DECK
The command staff watch the destruction of Bisson across a series of tactical monitors. The comms are a frenzy of panicked chatter. Bisson is a network of smoldering craters.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: (comms) Bombardment complete, director. Hostile signal, neutralized.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Excellent. Deploy ground forces.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR NARN: (comms) Yes ma’am.
The hatchway slides open and Commander Tygg enters the command deck.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Ground forces?
DIRECTOR TETZI: Captain, you were deployed here with the directive to establish a relationship of peace with the Holkari Empire. That peace was threatened by forces hostile to our civilization. We had no option but to intervene.
She hands him a datapad.
DIRECTOR TETZI: And now that the threat is neutralized…
Landris activates the device and skims the contents.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: What’s this?
DIRECTOR TETZI: I’m restructuring the Colony’s frontier operations.
The captain scrolls through reassignments, promotions, and redeployments.
DIRECTOR TETZI: The deck is yours, captain.
She starts to leave, then turns back.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Commander. Join me.
Landris stares after her, then turns his gaze to Commander Tygg.
INT. CENTRAL CORRIDOR
Tetzi and Tygg walk slowly down the central corridor.
DIRECTOR TETZI: You’ve done well here, commander. You have fulfilled your duties beyond my expectations. Where do you stand on Edari, commander?
COMMANDER TYGG: I’d prefer a higher gravity index, ma’am.
DIRECTOR TETZI: The ship is ready. Everything will be processed through the official channels, of course.
She hands him a datapad.
DIRECTOR TETZI: Your crew. Captain Tygg.
They pause at the lift. Tygg skims the datapad.
COMMANDER TYGG: I… I don’t know what to say, director.
DIRECTOR TETZI: I don’t expect you to speak. You are loyal to the Colony, and that loyalty is to be recognized and rewarded. The human and the zaridian have fled deeper into the Uncivilized Territories. There are only a few jump lanes they can access. With Instance 6-1PC and the Marauder, your traverse won’t be so limited. Capture the fugitives. Alive. We’ll make a spectacle of them for the Queen. And the drive core that they stole. Bring it to me. Depart immediately.
The lift doors slide open to reveal Kron and Elona. The director studies them, and grins.
INT. LIFT
Numbers tick up on a deck indicator. The travorian soldier, Corvan, stands apart from Captain Landris. Corvan vents.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: I’ll do what I can to reverse the director’s orders, but in the meantime you have my word: our arrangement will be honored.
CORVAN: I am familiar with the colonial chain of command. Your promises exceed your reach, captain.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: We’ll see. I don’t know what Director Tetzi has planned for this enterprise, but if the situation should deteriorate, or Tygg’s command be deemed a matter of concern… destroy the intelligence.
Corvan vents.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Then make contact with me on the old channels and I’ll extract you.
CORVAN: You would volunteer me for treason? You would ask me to destroy a rare being?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Corvan. Corvan, Director Tetzi is desperate for a weapon. There’s no telling what she could do with Rider.
CORVAN: And if I refuse?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: I can’t give your orders anymore, travorian. But you’re the only one on that ship that I can trust.
Corvan vents.
CORVAN: What about Kron?
INT. THE MARAUDER - BRIDGE
The jump relay drifts beyond the station, framed by the forward observation windows of the Marauder’s command deck. Colonial support staff prep the vessel for its first deployment.
Saranus Kron stands on the bridge, a new rank badge on his collar. His six eyes stare out into deep space.
COMMAND: (comms) Affirmative, Marauder. Simulating trajectories now, stand by for confirmation.
CONTROL: (comms) Marauder, this is Station Control, requesting officer authorization for departure clearance.
SARANUS KRON: This is Commander Saranus Kron, First Officer of the Marauder.
CONTROL: (comms) Confirmed, commander, stand by.
EXT. ASTEROID FIELD OF EDARI
The director’s battlecruiser drifts among the asteroids.
INT. STATION COMMAND DECK
Captain Landris stands at attention on the command deck.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: It’s part of a restructuring effort being implemented across the frontier. Congratulations, Chief Zoren. It’s well deserved.
ELONA ZOREN: (comms) Thank you, captain…
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Report to the observation deck when you’re done. We’ll discuss reprioritizing the station’s active operations with the new crew.
ELONA ZOREN: (comms) Yes sir.
INT. THE MARAUDER - ENGINEERING ROOM
In the engineering room of the Marauder, Chief Science Officer Elona Zoren oversees a work crew.
WORKER: Chief Zoren, we’ve finally got the transmitter operational, ma’am.
ELONA ZOREN: That should be it.
She pings the bridge on her comms.
ELONA ZOREN: Engineering to Commander Kron.
SARANUS KRON: (comms) Go ahead, Chief.
ELONA ZOREN: You can bring Rider online now for initial diagnostics.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
ELONA ZOREN: (comms) We’ll finish up here and disembark.
SARANUS KRON: I’ll keep you updated.
INT. THE MARAUDER - ENGINEERING ROOM
ELONA ZOREN: There’s a transmitter here we’ll be able to monitor remotely for support, but officially my department is transitioning to… other projects.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
SARANUS KRON: We’ll make contact when we reacquire the drive core.
INT. THE MARAUDER - ENGINEERING ROOM
ELONA ZOREN: Saranus. Fly safe.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
SARANUS KRON: Watch yourself, Elona.
INT. THE MARAUDER - ENGINEERING ROOM
SARANUS KRON: (comms) This doesn’t change anything.
ELONA ZOREN: No. It doesn’t. Good luck, Rider.
Rider chirps affirmative.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
CREW: Initial integration complete, commander.
At the captain’s console, a red light illuminates.
SARANUS KRON: Rider?RIDER: I am here, Commander Kron.
SARANUS KRON: Do you know where you are?
RIDER: Stand by.
She starts a scan.
RIDER: Curious. I am unfamiliar with this vessel.
SARANUS KRON: We’re all learning. Run diagnostics and prepare to review our jump calculations.
RIDER: Affirmative, commander.
SARANUS KRON: Navigating jump space without a relay… Is this going to work, Rider?
RIDER: Based on currently available data, I am currently unable to calculate the probability of a safe transit.
The bridge hatchway slides open, and Corvan enters. Corvan vents.
CORVAN: Kron.
Kron nods to the travorian.
SARANUS KRON: Ready?
Corvan crosses the bridge to his station.CORVAN: It is impossible to prepare yourself for the dangers to which colonial service may direct you.
SARANUS KRON: You’re not wrong.
CORVAN: I am aware.
The bridge hatchway slides open, and Captain Strakker Tygg enters the bridge.
SARANUS KRON: Captain on deck!
The command staff stand at attention.
CAPTAIN TYGG: As you were.
Tygg inspects the command deck as he crosses to the captain’s console.
CAPTAIN TYGG: Rider, engage observational sub-routines. Helm, take us out.
INT. HANGAR
The Marauder’s pulse engines light up.
EXT. SPACE
The colonial frigate slips away from the station, the Gerlian System’s distant star flashing brilliantly off its hull. The vessel clears Edari’s asteroid field.
INT. STATION COMMAND DECK
Captain Landris watches the ship depart. Director Tetzi stands before him, a smile creeping across her face.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
Kron glances at Tygg.
CREW: We’re clear of the jump relay, captain.
Tygg nods to Kron, who glances at Corvan. The travorian vents.
CONTROL: (comms) Station Control to Marauder. Sensors are showing you’re clear.
CREW: Affirmative, station control.
All eyes are on Tygg.
CAPTAIN TYGG: Open a ship wide channel.
INT. THE MARAUDER
Tygg broadcasts across the entire vessel.
CAPTAIN TYGG: (comms) This is Captain Strakker Tygg. Two fugitives from colonial forces have escaped custody into the Uncivilized Territories. We are traveling beyond colonial jurisdiction in pursuit of these criminals. This will be a dangerous mission. But everyone on this ship was personally selected by Director Tetzi. We are dangerous. We will capture these fugitives. And we will bring them back to the core systems, to justice. All hands prepare to jump.
INT. THE MARAUDER - COMMAND DECK
DECK OFFICER: Course locked in, sir.
SARANUS KRON: Rider, confirm.
RIDER: Analysis complete. Adjusting jump vectors. Reconfiguring navigational priorities. Stand by.
Tygg’s gaze falls on his commander.
CAPTAIN TYGG: I’m glad you’re here, Kron. And I’m sorry about Delerev. I did what I could.
SARANUS KRON: Yes sir.
CAPTAIN TYGG: We’ll get those grekking frellots.
SARANUS KRON: Yes sir…
CAPTAIN TYGG: Rider. Initiate the jump.
RIDER: Jump confirmed. Accelerating jump drive.
The ship charges up.
EXT. SPACE
The Marauder accelerates into a deep star field. Its pulse engines spool up, then the jump drive. A glow of energy surges and envelopes the ship. It punches into jump space -- into the beyond-all.
END