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TRIUMVIRATE (Installment Eight)
By The Host
Here's the next part of Triumvirate; a little late, but then I don't really have regular computer access right now. I'm still on track to finish this by Christmas. Anyway, enough of my rambling. Let's get to the story! (Next eleven pages, bringing us to the eighty-seven minute mark.)
EXT. MAGNAPOLIS -- DUSK
A procession of shuttlecraft move slowly through a canyon of concrete in the center of Magnopolis. A NEW ANGLE reveals their destination: the United Center, a large boxy building in the center of Mangapolis, near the Presidential and Corporate towers. ANOTHER ANGLE shows the shuttles finally arriving and docking at the Center. SUPERIMPOSED over this is the image of a FEMALE REPORTER. She speaks in an exaggerated tone.
REPORTER
The sun is setting here in Magnapolis, seat of the mighty United Star Systems, for the first time in ninety-six years, and against this beautifully dramatic backdrop the President arrives at the Senate Chambers of the United Center to make his annual State of the Union Address. This will be the President’s first Address, but things are expected to run smoothly—
PULL BACK TO REVEAL:
INT. STARBASE ONE ONE FOUR -- QUARTERS -- DIM
Lieutenant Robert Johnson, along with four or five of his new comrades-at-arms, disinterestedly watches the action unfold on a holodisplay in his room.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. STARBASE ONE ONE FOUR -- COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM
The same drama plays out on Admiral Copley’s desk. Copley pours himself another drink as he watches the President exit his shuttle.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. USS GEMINI -- READY ROOM -- BRIGHT
Dawson, aboard his flagship the Gemini, observes the President move in a formal procession toward the entrance to the building on his own holodisplay. He quickly turns away and moves out of the small and spare ready room.
INT. USS GEMINI -- BRIDGE -- BRIGHT -- CONTINUOUS
Dawson enters the bridge of the Gemini. A three level room with a massive bay of windows, it is now a beehive of activity as dozens of OFFICERS prepare to launch. Outside the last sliver of Gauleius’s weak sun disappears over the distant horizon, casting the craters and canyons into shadow. Dawson steps up to a balcony railing ahead of him and looks down over his crew. He speaks with amplified voice.
DAWSONPrepare for launch in three minutes.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- DUSK
There is a great FANFARE, and all the SENATORS and DIGNATARIES inside the Center rise. The room is unsurpassingly gargantuan and magnificent. Along the rear is the tiered sitting area for Senators and, above that and to either side, a sitting area for spectators. In the center rear, cut through the high seats, is the Grand Entrance, and above that is a finely-appointed box where the CEO now stands. At the room’s forefront is the Speaker’s stage and rostrum where the President will address the assemblage, above which are two huge holoprojectors which will show the President larger than life.
Presently a train of DIGNIFIED MEN in exquisite uniforms ritually enters the room from the Grand Entrance. Near the rear of this procession strides the President, who stares unflinchingly ahead ignoring the explosive applause that greets him. He is sweating and anxious but his face is serious and his jaw is set.
EXT. UNDERGROUND CITY
HUNDREDS OF FIGHTERS zoom out of their hangars in the craggy roof of the underground city. They weave in formation between the buildings and make for a gaping tunnel not far ahead, its massive doors almost completely open.
IN THE TUNNEL more fighters speed on, leaving the lights of the city behind. They all head toward another pair of doors open to the starry night sky.
EXT. GAULEIUS -- NIGHT
The fighters blast out of the tunnel and speed over the pock-marked surface of the planet Gauleius. Already a number of capital ships have assembled behind them, slowly moving into the proper formation. Some fighters peel away towards these larger ships; the advance guard continues on ahead.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The fanfare ends and the applause dies away. The large audience seats itself almost all at once and the President steps up to the high podium. He speaks.
THE PRESIDENTGentlemen, we are here tonight to celebrate the countless glories that have befallen our great nation of late.
The audience rises to its feet and applauds; the President smiles faintly.
EXT. SPACE -- CONTINUOUS
The fleet assembles, capital ships protected by the more numerous fighters, and they move together toward the nearby hypergate.
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS
Copley takes another drink and lays his glass down near his holovision. The image of the President’s face scatters and twists through the glass. The President looks around him and waits for the applause to die down.
THE PRESIDENTSince declaring war against Al T’Har barely one month ago—
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
A NEW ANGLE shows the President is sweating profusely under the glare of lights and audience.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)We have reaped only victory, never defeat—
The audience stands again, clapping and cheering. The President shouts yet his amplified voice is nearly drowned out.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)And we have the nation on its very knees!
The President looks around him, licks his lips, then finds a glass of water suddenly placed on the podium beside him. He takes it to his lips with shaking hand and drinks.
INT. STARBASE ONE ONE FOUR -- QUARTERS -- CONTINUOUS
Robert Johnson and his wingmates continue to watch as the President places down and glass and makes ready to speak.
EXT. SPACE -- CONTINUOUS
The fleet begins to emerge from a hypergate near a small blue world.
INT. USS GEMINI -- STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM CONTINUOUS
The Strategic Planning Room is a round dark room, the majority of which is given over to a flat circular object in the center, like a sort of table, perfectly black. There are four monitors affixed to the edge of this strange item. The President’s image is holographically projected on the one nearest the room’s single entrance; the President stands by the podium and waits for another spate of clapping to end. Dawason, standing nearby but examining a separate display, spins as an OFFICER enters the room.
OFFICERSir?
DAWSON (Nodding)
Go ahead with the attack.
OFFICERYes, sir.
The officer leaves just as the President begins to speak again.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The crowd has sat back down.
THE PRESIDENTWe have tasted of glory!
The audience quickly rises to its feet. The President smiles quickly, then takes another nervous drink and a deep breath.
EXT. SPACE -- CONTINUOUS
The capital ships have come to a halt but the fighters swoop down toward the water planet. Already the first have reached the upper reaches of the planet’s atmosphere.
INT./EXT. GUNSHIP -- CONTINUOUS
INSIDE THE CRAMPED CABIN OF THE GUNSHIP the Black Aces are assembled. Hayden Doyle guides the vessel toward the planet.
DOYLEHold on, guys, we’re entering the atmosphere fast.
A FIGHTER ESCORT flanks the gunship as it flies forward. All of them glow with the heat of entry.
THE CABIN jitters and vibrates and then shakes violently. Davies grabs a handhold and smiles nervously at the others. Even they seem a bit on edge.
MACYNervous?
DAVIESYeah.
STEVEWe all are.
Getty nods. Willem’s eyes are tightly closed.
INT. UNTIED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The CEO is on his feet clapping along with the cheering crowd. He seems almost bored. A NEW ANGLE, FAVOURING the President as he speaks nervously over the din.
THE PRESIDENTThank you. . . I thank you.
EXT. GUNSHIP -- MOVING –- CONTINUOUS
THE GUNSHIP AND ALL OTHER FIGHTERS pull up as they pass through white puffy clouds at outrageous speeds. They streak over green valleys and forested hills and, in the distance, snow-capped mountains; they scream past the shoreline and soar over a tumultuous sea.
INSIDE THE CABIN Doyle checks his instruments as he begins to reduce speed and descend. He speaks without looking back.
DOYLEAll right, guys, we’re about to enter the drink. It’ll be a little rough at first, but she can take it. Then it’s straight on to the base. We’ll dock after the first missile run. Then it’s up to us to allow a second.
AHEAD OF THEM the first fighters plunge into the ocean with a SPLASH.
JACK DAVIES grips his handholds with white knuckles. He grinds his teeth.
LOOKING FORWARD the waves are rushing up to meet the gunship, faster, faster, closer, closer, closer, and then, in the blink of an eye the gunship is--
UNDERWATER, where everything seems to happen in slow motion. Bubbles stream out of the rear of the fighters and gunship in brief spurts; sunlight streaks through the water making playful patterns on the hulls.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The President speaks, his words bolder than his voice.
THE PRESIDENTAnd tomorrow brings a better day and a stronger nation. We have conquered!
At this the audience stands in a chorus of whoops and cheers.
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Copley drains his drink and exhales heavily.
COPLEYFucking circus. But they’re barking up the wrong tree, aren’t they?
He holds his empty glass in an empty toast to an empty room.
INT. STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Dawson observes a holographic representation of the battle playing out on the round device before him. He touches one portion of the display with his fingertip twice and drags it up and left; this particular area of the battlefield is magnified. He watches ten ships moving forward together, the one in the center slightly larger than the others.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT./EXT. GUNSHIP -- MOVING -- CONTINUOUS
The sunlight is gone. The fighters’ own weak lights are enough to demarcate them but not enough to reveal much of what’s ahead. Still, some distance away, a bright spot can be discerned against the inky blackness.
INSIDE THE GUNSHIP Doyle checks displays and controls as he speaks.
DOYLEThat’s the base ahead. Forward elements should be making their initial run about now.
(Turns to the others)
Then it’s our time to shine.
Some of the others solemnly nod.
AS THE NEAREST FIGHTERS APPROACH MacGuffin Base, they prepare to launch their first volley of torpedoes.
CLOSE ON MISSILE BAY of one of the fighters. There is a WHIRRING NOISE and then a torpedo breaks through and passes out.
ANOTHER ANGLE reveals dozens, maybe hundreds of torpedoes moving in tandem toward the distant base at break-neck speed.
INSIDE THE GNUSHIP, Jack Davies looks through the glass ceiling, rotating his head as torpedoes pass above.
THE TORPEDOES approach the base. MacGuffin Base becomes suddenly clear, bathed as it is in artificial light. It is huge, affixed to the ocean floor and built against an underwater cliff; there are thousands of windows and portholes and appendages and guns. Submarines are docked, bubbles stream out in a few spots, and there are a few openings of various sizes that subs and shuttles can pass through.
CRANE UP to reveal the station in its entirety: atop the submerged precipice is an expansive low dome, the base’s manufacturing center. Suddenly the missiles streak by. A few are intercepted by guns or countermeasures, but most strike the dome. There is a riveting explosion and clouds of gas and sand and billowing flame expand and obscure the station.
THE FIRST WAVE OF FIGHTERS swoop up and over the base and into the growing cloud.
THE GUNSHIP approaches the base, slowing down as it does so. In the growing confusion, as dozens of tiny enemy submersibles emerge from the station, the vessel is barely fired upon.
INSIDE THE CABIN Doyle maneuvers the gunship close to the side of the base, making for a wide curving wall with no windows or visible hatches. One particular spot is illuminated red and flashing in the HUD.
DOYLEWe’re gonna set it down there. You guys better get ready. As soon as the umbilical touches down you’d better be blasting that hatch. I don’t wanna sit here on my hands.
Macy, Steve, Willem and Getty jump into action, grabbing their proper tools and lining up above a hatch in the cabin’s floor. Davies remains seated watching the others, trying to control his face.
OUTSIDE, the gunship deftly positions itself over the station’s hull, surrounded by chaos. The gunship comes to a rest and a short accordion-like connector extends and gloms onto the hull.
INSIDE, Macy watches a display near the hatch as it flashes red. After a second it turns a solid shade of green. Macy immediately reaches down to twist the handle on the hatch.
MACYPressure’s good.
The hatch opens. Davies peers over everybody’s shoulders as they begin to hop one by one down into the connector.
INSIDE THE CONNECTOR Steve bends down and takes out an item that looks like a pin connected to a wire connected to a handheld monitor. Steve inserts the pin into a tiny hole in the hull of the station at his feet.
STEVEWatch out. Get behind me.
At that moment there’s a BEEP and the others move behind Steve. Steve removes the pin from the hole and a hatch, so perfectly placed into the hull that it was near invisible to the naked eye, suddenly pulls back. Steve is the first through, finding a ladder leading down.
OUTSIDE, a sub is in hot pursuit of a fighter. The fighter barrel-rolls toward the station and pulls away at the last moment. The sub is forced to pull too late and grazes the station’s hull, spinning terribly as it zooms away in the opposite direction. It suddenly collides with a fighter and the two vessels explode. A huge intact hunk of the fighter spirals away – directly toward the nearby stationary gunship.
INSIDE, Doyle sees the twisted steel approaching.
DOYLEOh, shit.
The next section of screenplay will be up in a matter of moments. Before you read it, though, I'd appreciate it if you could leave a comment!
Thanks,
The Host
12/17/2002 9:45:43 PM
Comment on this fan fiction!
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