(cont'd)

INT. QUARTERS -- BRIGHT

The lights are now on again in the quarters, showing the
aftermath of the party the night before. Decorations are
strewn across both the walls and floors, and food (much of
it half-eaten) lies everywhere. Dan is sound asleep in a
chair.

After a moment, Johnson emerges from his room. He looks at
the mess in disgust, then walks over to Davies’ bunk and
wakes up his friend.

                           JOHNSON
                    (Whispering)
               Listen, Jack, you’re going to
               have to wake these guys up.
               We’ve gotta clean this place
               quickly.
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Groggily)
               Why me? Can’t you do it?
               
                           JOHNSON
               Just do it, Jack.

Davies forces himself up out of bed.

                           DAVIES
                    (Loudly)
               All right guys, let’s get up.
               We’ve gotta clean this place
               now.

All he recieves in reply are moans and whines from his
wingmen. Davies sighs.

EXT. CITY -- DAY

A beautiful city, much like Calinopolis, though large and
more modern. Out of the hundreds of fast-moving transports,
one stands out. It is black and very large; a three-pronged
grey logo is marked on each side. Below the logo are the
words ‘The Corporation’.

That’s not the only place where those words appear. Dozens
of screens and billboards throughout the city mark
advertisements for The Corporation. Buildings and other,
smaller transports are marked with the same logo. The logo
can even be seen on flags flying from the tops of the high
towers.

The transport arrives at a huge tower in the center of the
city. This building dwarfs all others around it; it’s done
in neo-gothic style like all of the other buildings of the
city. The transport lowers into a landing area near the top
of the building.

INT. HALLS -- BRIGHT

A procession of GUARDS in black uniforms emerges from a set
of double doors leading to the landing area. They march
through the corridors sporting laser rifles and bosy armor;
their only marks of identification are the grey Corporation
logos embroidered into their uniforms’ left breast. Near the
rear of the procession marches the grim-faced man.

They make their grand way through brightly-lit, vibrantly-
colored halls and offices. WORKERS shy away as the dark
group passes.

They march alongside a huge set of windows looking out over
the city thousands of feet below. As they make their way
along this hall, many of the soldiers depart their ranks and
assume defensive positions. Halfway down the hall, the grim-
faced man turns to a large set of double doors. They open as
he steps up to them; the other guards assume their positions
in the hall behind him.

INT. GRAND OFFICE -- BRIGHT

He finds himself in the Grand Office of the President of the
United Star Systems. Like Copley’s office, it is expansive
and sports huge windows at the rear. Unlike Copley’s office,
the Grand Office is bright and splendid; the floor is an
intricate mosaic of the official symbol of the USS, the
walls have a real oak base; marble pillars line the two
sides of the room. The windows show a breath-taking view of
the city below.

The grim-faced man crosses the room to the desk of the
President. THE PRESIDENT is a man of medium height and
build, sporting dirty blonde hair parted on one side. He is
a very ordinary-looking man, in contrast to the splendor
surrounding him. His desk is of a beautiful oak design; atop
it is nothing save for a small card with his title -- ‘THE
PRESIDENT’ -- neatly but simply written upon it.

The President looks eager, unlike the methodically calm man
now seated before him.

                        THE PRESIDENT
                    (Indicating his office;
               with British accent)
               Do you like it?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Very nice. Not unlike Admiral
               Copley’s office, but of a much
               nicer design.
               
                        THE PRESIDENT
               Admiral Copley? Is his office
               larger than mine?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Roughly the same size. Why?

The President presses a button on his desk, bringing up a
screen in the wood’s surface. His SECRETARY appears on the
screen.

                        THE PRESIDENT
               Gloria, have them knock out a
               few walls and make my office
               bigger ASAP.
               
On-screen, his secretary nods. He turns it off and stands,
then walks over to the window and looks out.

                        THE PRESIDENT
               Hell of a view, isn’t it?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               With all due respect, Mr.
               President, we have a slight
               situation on our hands.
               
                        THE PRESIDENT
                    (Turning)
               You mean those two pilots from
               the edge of the empire?
               Nothing to worry about. It’s a
               lie, anyway -- what they’ve
               supposedly been told.
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Yes. But situations like this
               tend to snowball into much
               larger complications.
               
                        THE PRESIDENT
               Well, what do you want me to
               do about it?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Nothing. Nothing. I’m handling
               the matter personally.
               
                        THE PRESIDENT
               Then why did you come to me?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               I wanted to know if I had your
               official support to go ahead
               with the project.
               
                        THE PRESIDENT
               Now, hold on a minute. What
               will this ‘project’ entail?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Hopefully nothing. One of the
               men, the commander, seems to
               have taken the bait. The other
               one may pose a problem, but it
               can be swiftly and quietly
               dealt with.

The President considers this for a moment.

                        THE PRESIDENT
               Very well. You’ve got my full
               diplomatic support.
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Excellent. That will be all.
               
The Grim-faced man stands and turns two walk out; two of his
guards who followed him in fall into march behind him. His
AIDE walks beside him.

                            AIDE
                    (Whispering to grim-faced
               man)
               What was that all about?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               I let him think he’s actually
               in control of his own nation
               sometimes. It makes my job a
               lot easier.

After the grim-faced man is gone, the President turns to a
nearby ADVISOR who had silently observed the entire
conversation.

                        THE PRESIDENT
               Well, I think I handled that
               very well.
               
INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT

Johnson’s fighter flies between two of his wingmen’s own
vessels. The roar of their engines fills his cockpit.

                           JOHNSON
               All right, men, we’ll make a
               calculated turn according to
               flight plan to heading zero-
               niner-four, ten degree
               inclination on my mark.

Johnson sets this course change into his computer, then sits
up in his seat again.

                           JOHNSON
               Mark.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- BRIGHT

The simulation chamber is a massive, sphereical room. It is
empty save for eight huge spheres suspended in the air in
the center of the room. The spheres are each fitted with
complex hydraulics, and the walls of the room itself are
lined with sensors and projectors. A column runs through the
center of the room; the spheres are attached to this.

The eight spheres immediately move in tandem when Johnson
says, ‘Mark.’

INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT

Davies’ fighter flies through simulated space with the
others in his formation. Johnson issues another command over
the comm system.

                        JOHNSON (VO)
               Good job. Now prepare to make
               a sub-space jump. Your co-
               ordinates should already be
               entered and locked.

Davies reaches down and presses a button on his terminal,
bringing up the sub-space jump screen. It shows that
everything is ready to go.

                        JOHNSON (VO)
               Ready?
               
                           DAVIES
               Affirmative.

The other wing members mimic Davies. Once everybody has
stated that they’re ready, Johnson gives the order to make
the jump.
               
                        JOHNSON (VO)
               Let’s do it.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- DIM

VARIOUS ANGLES as the spheres rotate into position again.

INT. ED’S COCKPIT

Ed’s fighter begins to shake, almost invisibly at first but
growing stronger and stronger, as he picks up speed.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- DIM

The eight spheres shake in the center of the room, now quite
quickly.

VARIOUS ANGLES from inside the cockpits of each of the
flight members. The shaking is slowly becoming more violent;
the stars streak by faster and faster, blueshifted.

INT. DAN’S COCKPIT

Dan is visibly on edge. He opens up communications with
Johnson.

                             DAN
               What’s going on? Why haven’t
               we jumped yet?
               
                           JOHNSON
               I don’t know. Give it time.

The communications shut off, but Dan is if anything even
more ill-at-ease.

INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT

Davies is no calmer than Dan. He is checking and double-
checking all of his instruments.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- DIM

The spheres are vibrating up and down even faster.

INT. ED’S COCKPIT

Ed’s cockpit is shaking so violently he can’t get a grip on
his controls.

INT. RON’S COCKPIT

Ron is terrified, muttering to herself.

                             RON
               Something’s wrong...
               Something’s wrong...
               Something’s wrong...

Her screen flicks on; she looks up to see Johnson’s face
upon it.

                           JOHNSON
               I think something’s wrong.
               Don’t worry, it’s probably
               just a minor malfunction. Just
               hold tight.

INT. DAN’S COCKPIT

Dan is utterly terrified. He seems to be on the verge of
tears.

                             DAN
               This isn’t right! These things
               can’t withstand this much
               shaking!!!!
               
INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT

Davies looks at the stars flying by his window.

                           DAVIES
               Christ.

INT. VIEWING AREA -- DARK

A young ENSIGN, attracted by the flickering of lights, runs
across a darkened observation room. He comes up to a row of
large windows and looks out to see the spheres vibrating in
the simulation chamber. The lights in that room flicker on
and off; sparks fly.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- FLICKERING

The CAMERA moves forward into the simulation chamber as the
ensign turns to find a superior officer.

VARIOUS ANGLES of the spheres shaking so violently that the
hydraulics are beginning to give out. Then, with one fnal
burst of sparks, the lights go out in the room and the
spheres finally stop shaking -- except for one.

INT. DAVIES’ COCKPIT

The shaking has stopped and the stars outside have
completely disappeared, replaced by unbroken darkness.

Davies sighs as his monitor comes on. It’s Johnson.

INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT

Johnson’s brow is soaked with sweat.

                           JOHNSON
               What the hell was that?
               
                         DAVIES (V0)
               I don’t know. At least it’s
               over.
               
INT. DAN’S COCKPIT

Dan’s cockpit continues to shake. His voice quavers as he
speaks.

                             DAN
               Wait, what do you mean,
               ‘over’? My ship is still
               shaking!

INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT

Johnson is alarmed by this news.

                           JOHNSON
               Jesus. Try to end the program,
               Dan.

INT. DAN’S COCKPIT

Dan grits his teeth and grips his arm rests, knuckles white.

                             DAN
               I can’t end it! This thing
               can’t take much more of this!

INT. JOHNSON’S COCKPIT

                           JOHNSON
               Just hold on tight.
               
INT. DAN’S COCKPIT

                             DAN
               I am holding on!!!

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- DARK

Dan’s sphere is shaking too hard now. In a few seconds, it
will break away from the central column if the shaking
doesn’t stop. A cord connected to the sphere breaks,
showering sparks everywhere.

INT. DAN’S SPHERE -- DARK

Dan’s cockpit literally flickers away into non-existance,
with a short burst of colorful static before Dan finds
himself surrounded by darkness.

All that’s left is Dan in his chair, still shaking
violently. Dan looks up as his cockpit disappears with fear
in his eyes.

                             DAN
               Oh, shit.
               
Suddenly, with a great jarring, everything tumbles upside-
down. Dan begins to scream.

INT. SIMULATION CHAMBER -- DARK

Dan’s sphere detatches from the central column and flies
through the air. It hits a side-wall of the chamber and
explodes into flame; the charred sphere then rolls down the
curved wall of the room and comes to a stop at its very
bottom, still burning. A silence fills the room.

The silence is slowly replaced by slow, brooding music; a
funeral march.

INT. BALLROOM -- BRIGHT

The same ballroom that Davies and Johnson recieved their
medals in is now filled with troops in full uniform and
civilians in black clothing. In one corner, a BAND plays the
melancholy music.

Copley, Johnson and his wingmen, and other USS OFFICIALS
look on with stone faces as a futuristic coffin, draped with
the flag of the USS, is propelled by an unseen force towards
a small door in the wall. They salute when it passes by.

NEW ANGLE showing the huge windows on one side of the room.
When the coffin passes theough the small door, most of the
heads in the room turn toward the window.

EXT. SPACE -- OUTSIDE OF STATION

Close-up on a door built onto the side of the station. The
door opens and the coffin is ejected into space.

INT. BALLROOM -- BRIGHT

An OLDER LADY, dressed in black, breaks into tears as the
coffin floats away into space. The USS flag floats off of
the coffin.

EXT. SPACE

The station lies in the distance. The coffin slowly floats
ahead and passes over us, heading for its eternal rest in
the graveyard of the stars.

FADE OUT...

INT. CORRIDOR -- BRIGHT

Johnson walks haggardly along the corridor, still in
uniform. Davies runs up behind him.

                           DAVIES
                    (Shouting)
               Robert!
               
Johnson stops and turns to his friend. His face is tired,
his eyes lifeless. He is physically exhausted.

                           JOHNSON
               Jack.
                    (Beat)
               What a bad accident.
               
                           DAVIES
               I’m not sure it was an
               accident.
               
Johnson turns and begins walking again.

                           JOHNSON
               Come on, Jack. Don’t be so
               melodramatic. So cliche. Who’d
               want to kill Dan, anyway?
               
                           DAVIES
               They wanted to kill me.

                           JOHNSON
                    (Half-listening)
               Um-hum.
               
                           DAVIES
               That was suppossed to be my
               simulator, my cockpit that Dan
               was in...
               
                           JOHNSON
               So why weren’t you in it?
               
                           DAVIES
               This is why.

Davies extracts a small, folded piece of paper from the
breast pocket of his uniform. Johnson stops, turns, and
takes the paper handed to him by Davies. He unfolds it to
see scrawled across it in black ink the words, ‘Stay out of
your simulator cockpit tomorrow.’ Johnson folds the paper
closed again and looks up.

                           JOHNSON
               What is this?
               
                           DAVIES
               Paper. An antiquated method of
               storing information used
               before PADs came along--
               
                           JOHNSON
               No, I mean... Who gave it to
               you?
               
                           DAVIES
               I don’t know. I found it under
               my pillow the night before
               training. There are eight
               training spheres and only six
               left on our team, so I took
               one of the vacant ones. I
               guess Dan took mine for some
               reason.
               
                           JOHNSON
               I’m sure there’s a logical
               explaination for this.
               
                           DAVIES
               Like what? I find a note
               written on an obsolete medium
               by someone’s own hand under my
               pillow warning me not to go in
               something that turns out to be
               a death trap the next day.
               What’s your ‘logical
               explaination’ for that?
               
                           JOHNSON
               But why would they be trying
               to kill you?
                    (He sees the looks on
               Davies’ face and makes a
               realization)
               Oh, this isn’t about that
               thing on Al T’Har...
               
                           DAVIES
               Well, think about it. You’ve
               taken all of their bribes.
               You’ve kept your mouth shut. I
               haven’t. And now a lot of
               accidents seem to be happening
               to me.
               
                           JOHNSON
               But what we were told on Al
               T’Har was a lie...
               
                           DAVIES
               How do you know? Judging from
               what I’ve seen since then, I’d
               say it seems pretty damned
               likely now.
               
There is a long pause.

                           JOHNSON
               So what if all this is true?
               What are you going to do about
               it?
               
                           DAVIES
               I’m going public.
               
                           JOHNSON
               What?! Are you crazy? If
               they’re trying to kill you for
               knowing the truth, what do you
               think they’ll do if you try to
               expose the truth?
               
                           DAVIES
               I don’t know. I don’t care.
               
                           JOHNSON
               You realize that if you do
               this, and you’re right, then
               you’re a dead man.
               
                           DAVIES
               I’m dead anyway.

With that, Davies walks away, leaving Joghnson alone to
collect his thoughts.

                           JOHNSON
                    (To himself)
               Stupid son of a bitch...
               
EXT. SPACE

A huge fleet of ships is approaching the station. All are
painted black and marked with the symbol of the Corporation.
There are fighters and colossal capital ships, hundreds in
all.

INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM

Copley is sitting at his desk, facing a holographic image
being projected onto the floor five feet in front of him.
The image is of a MAN, tall and thin, with a fixed jaw and
deep-set eyes. The man is standing stiffly at attention, a
scowl on his face. Copley seems, if anything, intimidated by
this man.

                           COPLEY
               Admiral Dawson, what a
               pleasant surprise! What brings
               you here?
               
                           DAWSON
                    (With pronounced British
               accent)
               We have been sent here to re-
               inforce you for the time
               being.
               
                           COPLEY
               I assure you the war with the
               Al T’Har is going well. We do
               not need re-inforcements.
               
                           DAWSON
               Nonetheless we are here. I
               shall be coming aboard the
               station in ten minutes.
               
                           COPLEY
               Excellent! You haven’t been
               here before, have you? I shall
               personally escort you on a
               tour of the facility.
               
                           DAWSON
               Most excellent. I’ll see you
               in a few moments, admiral.
               Dawson out.
               
Dawson’s image disappears and is replaced by a rotating,
three-dimensional Corporation logo.

Copley immediately jumps into action, turning to his aide.

                           COPLEY
               Goddammit! We’ve gotta get
               this place in order right
               away!

Copley rushes toward the exit of his office, followed
closely by his aide.

INT. GRAND HALL -- BRIGHT

A large delegation, Copley and Dawson at the center, moves
through the Grand Hall of the station.

NEW ANGLE, showing Copley and Dawson walking together amidst
their ESCORTS.

                           DAWSON
                    (Indicating recreatio
               area)
               Admiral, what is that over
               there?
               
                           COPLEY
               Oh, that? Just the rec area.
               Games, movies, the regular.
               
                           DAWSON
               There seems to be quite a
               throng of off-duty officers
               there.
               
                           COPLEY
               Well, that’s where most of
               them go on their off hours.
               
                           DAWSON
                    (Starting towards the
               recreation area)
               I think I’d like to talk to
               some of them.
               
                           COPLEY
               I don’t really think that’s
               necessary--

It’s too late. Dawson is gone, making a bee-line across the
room towards the crowd of station crew members.

Copley looks at his aide, walking beside him as always.

                           COPLEY
               Damn. Come on, get some body
               guards over here. General
               Dawson is a very important
               man.

Copley begins walking towards Dawson. His aide motions for
some of the escorts to follow.

INT. RECREATION AREA -- BRIGHT

Johnson and Ed are playing chess together, using holographic
pieces on a board that is actually part of a table. A large
crowd is gathered around, some cheering Ed on, others
rooting for Johnson.

Johnson, after much thinking, presses a space on the chess
board with his finger. A knight piece then moves, actually
galloping across the chess board. On its way, it slashes at
one of Ed’s rooks, knocking that piece out of the game. When
the knight reaches the spot Johnson touched, the tiny horse
rears up and the chess piece actually speaks.

                           KNIGHT
               Check!
               
Johnson looks up at Ed with a smile. The crowd is silent as
Ed contemplates his next move. He’s sweating and under
pressure whereas Johnson is completely laid back and
smiling.

Davies, near the edge of the crowd, turns to get up and walk
away, when he’s suddenly faced with Dawson.

                           DAWSON
                    (Whispering)
               What are they playing?
               
                           DAVIES
               Um, chess.
               
                           DAWSON
               Ah, chess, the game of kings.
               Who’s winning?
               
                           DAVIES
               Johnson... The one on the
               right.
               
                           DAWSON
               I should have known. He seems
               very relaxed. Too much so,
               perhaps -- his guard may be
               down. Many people perform well
               under pressure, when the odds
               are against them, you know.
               Yes, I’d say that this --
               Johnson -- should be a little
               more cautious.
               
                           DAVIES
               He’s a very good player.
               
                           DAWSON
               I’m sure he is.

Just as Davies begins to get up from his seat and walk away,
Ed commands his queen to move. The piece re-positions
itself, and speaks.

                            QUEEN
               Check-mate.
               
The crowd begins to clap. Ed sits quietly, a wide smile upon
his face. Johnson appears embarassed.

                           DAWSON
               I wondered if he would notice
               that move.
                    (Looking at Davies,
               smiling)
               I always prefer the underdog
               in a situation. Put people
               under stress and great
               pressure, and many -- the best
               -- will conquer. All too often
               one’s early gains are lost at
               the end of the battle because
               of one’s assuredness of one’s
               own supreme power. An
               assumption that should never
               be made until the battle is
               over, and not even then.
               
Davies looks at Dawson with slight wonder.
               
                           DAVIES
               Who are you?
               
                           DAWSON
                    (Smiling)
               A friend.

At that moment, Admiral Copley comes up behind the two with
his aide and body guards.

                           COPLEY
               There you are!
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Saluting)
               Good afternoon, admiral!
               
                           COPLEY
                    (Saluting back)
               Good afternoon, Lieutenant.
                    (Turning to Dawson)
               If you’ll just come this way,
               general.

Copley leads Dawson away. Before he gets very far, however,
Dawson stops and turns back to Davies.

                           DAWSON
               A pleasure to make your
               aquaintance, Lieutenant
               Davies.
               
                           DAVIES
               A pleasure...

Dawson disappears on the other side of the crowd. After a
second, Davies looks down at his shirt and notices that he
has no name tag.

INT. GRAND HALL -- BRIGHT

Davies, Johnson, and the other members of their flight crew
stand in a corner of one of the grand hall’s food courts
regarding the men in the black uniforms sitting at tables
there.
               
                             RON
               Who are they?
               
                             ED
               Corporation. I hear they’ve
               got their own army three times
               the size of ours. There’s
               rumors that the President
               isn’t even in control any
               more, not in any type of real
               control. Those guys are
               running the show.
               
                           YURTEK
               Ed, you’re just paranoid.
               
                             ED
               I don’t know. I’m just saying
               I heard these things, not that
               I believe them.
               
                             RON
               They do look kind of creepy.
               
                             ED
               Creepy? They look creepy? What
               makes them look creepy?
               
                             RON
               They just do.
               
                           JOHNSON
               Well, come on, let’s just go
               get a table.
               
                             RON
               Can’t we go somewhere else?
               
                             ED
               What, the creepy guys really
               getting to you?
               
                             RON
               How elementary. Look, you said
               youself--
               
                           JOHNSON
               Guys--
               
                             ED
               I want to eat, Ron. Just come
               on.
               
                             RON
               No!
               
                           JOHNSON
               Guys!
               
                             ED
               You’re such a stuck-up bitch,
               you know that? You think
               everything has to go your way?
               
                             RON
               You hering this, Johnson? For
               Christ’s sake, Ed, what set
               you off?
               
                             ED
               AS if you didn’t know.
               
                           JOHNSON
               Listen, guys!
               
Johnson is clearly out of control of the situation. As Ron
and Ed continue to argue, Johnson looks pleadingly at
Davies. He mouths the words, ‘help me.’ Finally, Davies
turns and hollars at the feuding siblings.

                           DAVIES
               Shut up! Both of you!
               
Ron and Ed stop fighting simultaneously and look at Davies.
In fact, many heads in the room turn to him.

                           DAVIES
                    (Much calmer)
               I’ve had enough of this. Just
               shut up or go somewhere else.
               
                             RON
                    (Angrily)
               I don’t think this is any of
               your business, lieutenant.
               
                           DAVIES
               When my men can’t stop
               fighting for five minutes, it
               becomes my business.

Ron stares at Davies with hatered in her eyes, but says
nothing. Johnson whispers in his ear loud enough for
everybody else to hear.

                           JOHNSON
               You really must learn when to
               butt into a situation and when
               not to, Jack.

Johnson and the others turn and walk away, leaving Davies
behind.

INT CORRIDOR -- DIM

The lights have been dimmed in the corridor Davies is
walking through, as soldiers in the quarters here are
asleep.

Davies walks slowly, absorbed in his own thought. He thinks
he hears something behind him, and darts a look back over
his shoulder. He sees only shadows.

He continues walking, but he can feel somebody behnd him;
not hear, feel. He feels feet padding along the plush carpet
of the corridor. He feels the breath entering and exiting
nostrils. He feels the slight change in air temperature
surrounding a person. Even moreso he can feel his heart
beating in his chest.

Davies spins around. Once again, the hall is empty. He
thinks he sees something, a hint of movement in the shadows
twenty feet behind him.

                           DAVIES
               Hello?

His voice echoes feebly in the dark hall. He recieves no
answer. After a moment of peering into the shadows, he turns
back around to face bulky MAN engulfed in shadow just inches
away from his face.

                             MAN
               Report to hangar seven at oh-
               eight-hundred hours.
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Stunned)
               Wha--
               
                             MAN
               There is someone who wants to
               see you.

Davies opens his mouth to speak, but the man is already
gone, hurrying down the hall in the direction Davies was
coming from.

                           DAVIES
               Wait!

It’s too late. The man disappears around a corner further
along the corridor. Davies never got a good look at him.

The young lieutenant stands silently collecting his thoughts
for a long time.

FADE OUT...

----------------------- [FILL THIS IN] ---------------------
                              -

INT. HANGAR -- BRIGHT

Troops are drilled in a large formation on the floor of the
huge hangar. Behind them, the bay doors are closed.

From Davies’ perch high above the room, things are very
quiet. Only the voice of the drill commander echoes through
the monstrous room.

Davies watches the performance for a moment, then hauls
himself up and takes a look around him. He’s standing near a
railing on a platform on the inside wall of the hangar, a
hundred feet or more above the floor. He sighs as he turns
to leave.

Just before reaching the exit, he passes a small, shadowed
alcove. As he does so, GENERAL DAWSON emerges and steps in
front of him, barring his passage.

                           DAVIES
                    (Surprised)
               General Dawson--
               
                           DAWSON
               Observing the action from
               above, lieutenant?
               
                           DAVIES
               I was just--
               
                           DAWSON
               Waiting.
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Cautiouslly)
               Yes...
               
                           DAWSON
               For what?
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Choosing his words
               carefully)
               I’m not entirely sure...
               
                           DAWSON
               For me?
               
                           DAVIES
               Excuse me?
               
                           DAWSON
               Well, I summoned you here, so
               I assumed you were waiting for
               me.
               
                           DAVIES
               You?
               
                           DAWSON
               I had to sneak away to meet
               you here. Copley has me under
               armed guard at all times.
                    (Mumbling to himself)
               Says it’s for my own safety...
               I’m a prisoner in my own room
               is what I am. Copley sure is a
               pain in the ass. A regular
               politician. I’m going to file
               a complaint about this when I
               get home.

Davies opens his mouth to speak, but is immediately cut off
by the general, who looks up at the younger man before him.

                           DAWSON
               But no matter! I’m here now,
               and that’s the important
               thing.
               
                           DAVIES
               Exactly why are you here,
               general? If I may ask.
               
                           DAWSON
               Of course you may ask! I am
               here for one simple reason: to
               warn you that your life is in
               danger, and to give you a
               chance to escape the forces
               that would harm you.
               
Davies eyes Dawson with skepticism.

                           DAVIES
               My life is in danger?
               
                           DAWSON
               You know something which is
               very dangerous to some people.
               They want you dead. Already
               one attempt has been made on
               your life.
               
                           DAVIES
               The simulator?
               
                           DAWSON
               Exactly. They failed the first
               time. But they will not fail
               the second.
               
                           DAVIES
               Who’s ‘they’?
               
                           DAWSON
               The United Fleets, the
               government, the Corporation,
               you name it! What you learned
               on Al T’Har is really scaring
               some very important people.
               
                           DAVIES
               What I learned on Al T’Har?
               Well, what about Robert?
               
                           DAWSON
               Commander Johnson? He took the
               bribe. They aren’t worried
               about him. You, on the other
               hand, are another story...
               
                           DAVIES
               So are you saying I should
               take the bribe too?
               
                           DAWSON
                    (Quickly)
               No, no, you can’t do that!
               
                           DAVIES
               So you want me to expose them.
               
                           DAWSON
               They’ll kill you if you do.

Davies looks at the general for a moment, slightly annoyed
and very skeptical.

                           DAVIES
               So what do you want me to do?
               
                           DAWSON
               I want you to come with me.
               Transfer to my fleet. I can
               protect you there -- and what
               you know.
               
                           DAVIES
               What do I know?
               
                           DAWSON
               The truth.

Davies is obviously annoyed at the general’s vagueness.

                           DAVIES
               The truth.
               
                           DAWSON
               Not all of it, of course. But
               enough. Enough to warrent
               their interest -- and mine.
               
Davies considers all that he’s heard for a moment before
looking up and speaking again.
               
                           DAVIES
               So, what, you want me to just
               leave and go with you?
               
                           DAWSON
               No. No. I will give you as
               much time to decide as you
               need, and will not pressure
               you one way or another. But be
               warned: wait too long and it
               may already be too late.
               
                           DAVIES
               I might die?
               
                           DAWSON
               Yes.
               
                           DAVIES
               You realize, of course, that
               you were just pressuring me to
               join you.
               
                           DAWSON
               I was stating a fact.
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Still skeptical)
               A fact.
               
                           DAWSON
               The offer stands.

And with that, the old general turns. He exits through the
set of main doors. Davies doesn’t bother to follow.

INT. QUARTERS -- DARK

The quarters are engulfed in complete darkness as Commander
Robert Johnson enters.
               
                           JOHNSON
               Lights!
               
The lights come on and Johnson starts when he sees Davies
sitting in a chair, wide awake.

                           JOHNSON
               Jesus. You frightened me.
               
                           DAVIES
               Sorry.
               
                           JOHNSON
               What were you doing, witting
               in a chair in the dark? Maybe
               I shouldn’t ask...
               
                           DAVIES
               I was thinking.
               
                           JOHNSON
               About what?
               
                           DAVIES
               About...
                    (He stops and thinks for
               a minute)
               Nothing.
               
                           JOHNSON
               Thinking about nothing? Well
               that’s a waste, but not
               entirely surprising.

Johnson steps over to his bunk and picks up a data pad that
was lying upon it. As he reads from it, Davies seems to be
debating something with himself. Finally, he leans slightly
forward and speaks.
               
                           DAVIES
               Robert?
               
                           JOHNSON
                    (Not looking up)
               Yeah?
               
Davies doesn’t answer right away.

                           JOHNSON
               I’m listening.
               
                           DAVIES
               Oh... Never mind.
               
                           JOHNSON
                    (Partly to himself)
               Nothing. Never mind.
                    (Turning to Davies)
               You’ve really gotta learn how
               to finish your sentences,
               Jack.

Johnson turns back to whatever he’s reading on the data pad.
Davies looks at his commander for a moment, then stands and
leaves the room.

INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- DIM

Copley sits at his desk speaking with the holographic figure
of the grim-faced man. He seems rather irritated, his speech
slightly slurred, in stark contrast to the other man’s calm.

                           COPLEY
               How much longer will he be
               here?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               He’s been given orders to pull
               out in no less than seventy-
               two hours. His fleet will be
               going to aid starbase one-
               eleven.
               
                           COPLEY
               Seventy-two hours. Christ. Why
               the hell is Dawson here
               anyway?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               He’s here to make sure things
               are functioning up to
               expectations at your base.
               
                           COPLEY
               Up to expectations? You maen
               he’s spying.
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               I assure you he is not spying,
               Admiral Copley. It is purely
               standard procedure.
               
                           COPLEY
               Standard procedure. For God’s
               sake, I know what I’m doing
               here! I am not totally
               incompetent and incapable of
               handling things myself! I do
               not need your little squealer
               running around and making sure
               I haven’t screwed things up
               for you and your valuable
               resources out here.
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               I hold great confidence in
               you, admiral.
               
                           COPLEY
               Great confidence? Then why the
               hell is he here?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Admiral, why must you insist
               upon repeating everything I
               say?
               
                           COPLEY
               Why do insist upon skirting
               the issues?
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               What issues?
               
                           COPLEY
               You know full well what
               issues.
               
                       GRIM-FACED MAN
               Enlighten me.
               
                           COPLEY
               Look at you. Just look at you.
               Think you’re so big -- CEO of
               the Corporation. Well, I’ll
               tell you something: I’m USS,
               not Corporation. You have no
               power over me. You can’t tell
               me what to do. Got that
               straight?
               
                           THE CEO
               Admiral--

Copley frowns and swiftly leans forward. He presses a button
on his desk and the communication ceases.

                           COPLEY
               Bye, bye.
               
Copley presses another button on his desk, then speaks
again.
               
                           COPLEY
               Another scotch, please,
               Margaret.
               
Copley lets go of the button and leans back heavily in his
seat. He sighs.

INT. CEO’S OFFICE

The CEO sits in his comparitively small office. He swears
when Copley cuts off the communication and turns to his aide
standing nearby.

                           THE CEO
               Admiral Copley is a drunkard
               and has become unfit to
               continue command of his
               station. Have it stripped from
               him ASAP.
               
                            AIDE
               Right away, sir.

The aide turns and walks briskly out of the office. As he
leaves, the CEO turns completely around in his swivel chair,
a slight smile on his face.

INT. BRIEFING ROOM -- BRIGHT

Starbase one-fourteen’s pilots are all gathered in the large
briefing room. Commander Robert Johnson stands before them.

                           JOHNSON
               With recent events, many of
               you haven’t seen any action
               for two or three weeks. All
               that is about to change. We
               now have Al T’Har on its
               proverbial knees, and are
               preparing to launch a series
               of attacks on the planet that
               will end the war. The first of
               these attacks will commence in
               seventy-two hours. You will be
               called back here tomorrow for
               a full briefing. Until then:
               be ready.
                    (Beat)
               Now, if there are no
               questions, you can all go.
                    (Another beat)
               All right, get out of here.

The troops chuckle and stand, they begin to file out of the
room. Johnson watches them go for a moment, and then calls
to Davies.

                           JOHNSON
               Lieutenant Davies!
               
Davies walks over to Johnson, who is leaning against a small
table at the front of the room, now looking at some
datapads.

                           DAVIES
               What?

Johnson holds up a finger to silence his friend. After a
moment, he looks up to see the last people leave the room.
He looks down at the datapad again for a long moment; he
doesn’t seem to be reading but instead gathering himself.
Davies looks on with slight concern; when Johnson finally
lifts his head, Davies is slightly surprised to see the lack
of expression on his wingman’s face.

                           JOHNSON
                    (Somewhat coldly)
               Lieutenant Davies -- Jack -- I
               have been given orders to
               inform you that, effective oh-
               nine-hundred hours this
               morning, you have been demoted
               to the rank of corporal and re-
               assigned.

Davies is speechless. He has heard too much, too much
information has been given to him at one time. After the
initial shock, he looks up.

                           DAVIES
                    (Quietly)
               Reassigned?
               
                           JOHNSON
               To the intelligence
               department. Cartography.
               You’re going to be making maps
               for the rest of the war.
               
                           DAVIES
                    (Not knowing quite what
               to say)
               Cartography... Will I be able
               to participate in this
               mission?
               
                           JOHNSON
                    (Shaking his head)
               No. You’re going to have to
               fight this war from a desk.

Davies looks down at the floor, trying to comprehend, trying
to make sense of his feelings. Johnson reaches his hand out
and places it on Davies’ shoulder, but without any real
emotion. Davies looks slightly up to Johnson.

                           JOHNSON
               Jack... I’m sorry.

Davies looks up at Johnson; his eyes now filled with anger.

                           DAVIES
               You know why, don’t you? You
               know why they did this too me!

Johnson replies, as always, very coldly, but grows more
emotional, more angry as he speaks.

                           JOHNSON
               Yes, I do know why. Ever since
               we’ve gotten back from Al
               T’Har you’ve been preoccupied
               with your conspiracies and
               lies and your performance has
               suffered. You don’t think
               people notice, but they do!
               Always writing away on your
               datapad--
               
                           DAVIES
               I’m writing the truth.
               
                           JOHNSON
               The truth. The truth! And what
               are you going to do with it
               when you’re finished?
               
Davies seems caught slightly off-guard with that question.

                           DAVIES
               I’ll show it to somebody...
               
                           JOHNSON
                    (Now very emotional)
               Who? Who are you going to show
               it to, Jack?

Davies seems unsure, he shakes his head. Johnson pays no
attention, but keeps talking.

                           JOHNSON
               Because you know they won’t
               believe you. You shhow it to
               someone, they’ll think you’re
               crazy, and they’ll tell
               Copley.And then you’re really
               screwed, because they’ll have
               you, they’ll have their
               evidence, and you’re as good
               as dead. Are you ready for
               that, Jack? Are you willing to
               die for the truth? Because if
               you die, it does too.

Davies is stunned, surprised, and confused by this outburst.
He tries to think straight, to take everything in, but to no
avail. After a tense silence, Johnson speaks again, this
time calm and soothing.

                           JOHNSON
               Listen, Jack, why don’t you go
               back to quarters and gather
               your stuff? You’ve got to
               clear out in two hours. Here’s
               your new appointment.

Davies hands Jack a datapad. Jack looks at it, presses a few
buttons, but doesn’t seem to be reading at all. After a
moment he looks up again, nods to himself, and then turns
and begins to walk out. Johnson watches him leave, an
expression of concern on his face, and then calls to Davies
before the young pilot reaches the door.

                           JOHNSON
               Jack!
                    (Davies turns)
               I’m sorry...

Davies looks at his former commander for a second, saying
nothing. Then he turns and exits the room.

INT. CORRIDOR -- BRIGHT

Davies emerges into the busy hall. He walks straight ahead
at a normal pace, stolid yet with great emotion bubbling
underneath. Around him is a mass of confusion as people run
from one task to another; he doesn’t notice them, they don’t
notice him.

As he walks, Davies becomes more agitated. Suddenly he
speeds up and ducks into a connecting corridor.

Inside the empty hall, Davies leans against the wall to
catch his breath and collect his thoughts. Then he composes
himself and looks around him to see if anybody was watching
him. At first nobody seems to be paying attention. But then
he notices a TALL MAN standing in the main corridor holding
a datapad. At first glance he seems to be reading the pad,
but in fact he is looking over it, staring at Davies.
Suddenly the man seems to realize that he’s been discovered,
and his eyes quickly move back down to his pad.

Davies turns his head in the other direction. He hears
footsteps echoing through another corridor nearby. Sweat
beads on his brow as he looks back to the tall man, still
standing in the hall.

Davies stands erect agian and slowly turns. He then walks
along the empty passage, his step growing ever brisker. He
looks behind him to see the man put his pad down and begin
walking, apparently following Davies.

The young pilot turns a corner and enters a long hall. Ten
feet in front of him is an attaching corridor leading off to
the left, the only escape route from the hall he’s now in.

Davies rushes over to the adjoining corridor. He continually
looks over his shoulder, but sees no sign of pursuit.

When he gets about halfway down the corridor, the lights at
one end shut off. Davies quickly looks back as the lights at
the other end do the same. Then more lights shut off, and
more, the darkness surrounding Davies, attacking from both
sides, growing ever closer and closer, until finally the
lights right above his head flick off, plunging him in
darkness.

There is a long silence. Davies is breathing heavily. Then
he sees something, a hint of movement at the end of the hall
he just came from.

Davies turns and breaks into a run. He pants as he does so;
the man is obviously under great strain and anxiety. He
reaches the end of the hall and rounds another corner;
thirty feet away is a lighted passage.

He sprints this final distance, emerging in the next hall to
find it just as empty as the last, though at least it’s well-
lit.

Jack looks around him for somebody who may help him, save
him, from what he knows not. Then he suddenly realizes where
he is; he turns left and runs along the corridor until he
reaches its end, then turns right. Another twenty feet and
Davies finds himself outside his old quarters.

INT. QUARTERS -- DARK

The doors to the quarters open, shedding a beam of light on
them from the hall. Davies steps into the room; the lights
automatically come on.

He is surprised by the scene that lays before him: his
quarters have been ripped apart; beds overturned, personal
items thrown about the room, blankets and pillows strewn
across the floor.

After a moment, Davies begins to panick. He picks things up,
looks under them, throws them aside, further confusing the
room. He is looking for something; what it is, we don’t
know.