TRIUMVIRATE SE Chapter Sixteen
By The Host
FADE IN:
INT. MACGUFFIN BASE - CONFERENCE ROOM E - LATER
Conference room E is a large, long room, modern curves all
grey and steely blue. A slender table runs through the
center; like the room itself it is curved concave. A wall of
windows on the outer side of the room bow over to form much
of the ceiling. Outside, the area surrounding the base is
well-lit. Countless bubbles stream out of the damaged
portions of the underwater facility; hundreds of small,
remote-controlled vehicles work alongside divers to inspect
and repair the damage.
Exler Joggins stands alone looking at the work progress.
After a moment Admiral Dawson enters from a side door;
Joggins turns around to face his grave superior.
JOGGINS
So?
DAWSON
The President wants to meet with
me as soon as possible in
Magnapolis. I’m allowed an escort
of three vessels and eight men.
JOGGINS
Will you go?
DAWSON
What choice do I have?
JOGGINS
You think it’s a trap?
DAWSON
He’s not smart enough for that, or
else he’s too honest. No, he means
to do this.
A brief silence passes between the men.
JOGGINS
This jeopardizes your plan?
The statement falls heavily before Dawson. It is a question,
but it answers itself. Dawson breathes slowly in, then out,
and finally speaks.
DAWSON
I had best be off. Take care of
things here before you return to
Gauleius, will you?
JOGGINS
Sir.
Dawson curtly nods and marches out. Joggins sighs, then
turns back to gaze outside.
EXT. MACGUFFIN BASE - CONTINUOUS
Joggins stares out the window. PULL BACK to reveal the
scarred surface of the sprawling base. WE CRANE DOWN as a
transport vessel detaches from the station’s hull below the
windows of conference room E and lumbers off through the
water. We pass through thick glass to arrive in—-
INT. BRIEFING ROOM 37
The briefing room is much the same as the conference room,
although smaller. A DOZEN SOLDIERS stand around in small
groups talking in hushed voices. Hawk Macy sits in a
comfortable chair in the middle of the room quietly speaking
to Steve Jameson; Willem is in the background pouring them
some coffee. A UNIFORMED MESSENGER then arrives.
MESSENGER
Lieutenant Harrison Macy?
Hawk stands and turns to the messenger, who salutes him.
Macy salutes back, and the messenger passes him a hand-held
monitor.
MESSENGER (CONT’D)
Lieutenant Macy, sir, you are now
ranking officer of Flight Wing
Eleven and as such shall be
commanding said Wing until such
time as more permanent
arrangements can be made.
Congratulations, sir. Please come
with me.
Macy accepts the monitor silently, nods farewell to Steve,
and follows the messenger out of the room. Willem comes up
behind Steve with the coffee.
WILLEM
‘More permanent arrangements.’
Hmph. There’s no such thing as a
four-man flight wing, not even for
us. I guess this is it for the
Black Aces.
Steve just looks at Willem, takes his coffee, and walks
away. He moves across the room to where Jack Davies is
sitting quietly alone, looking outside at the divers and
shuttles moving to and fro. Steve sits down next to him and
offers Davies his own coffee. Davies cautiously takes it.
DAVIES
Thanks.
STEVE
How are you?
Davies takes a long drink.
DAVIES
Fine. I guess.
(Beat)
How are you?
STEVE
Alive.
DAVIES
I di—
He cuts himself off. Steve looks at him, questioningly, as
Willem joins them.
STEVE
You what?
DAVIES
(Beat)
I didn’t really know Doyle. Not
well. But he seemed like he was a
good guy. Getty too.
STEVE
Yeah.
(Long beat)
You know, you did pretty well for
yourself out there today.
DAVIES
I didn’t do anything, except
nearly get killed.
STEVE
Yeah. But you didn’t get killed.
DAVIES
For what that’s worth.
STEVE
These days? A lot. Everything.
Together they silently watch the divers continue their work.
AUTOR'S COMMENTARY:
The first scene is pretty much a lift from Gemini’s
Redemption, although I made it a little darker and more
sinister. What is Dawson’s ‘plan’?
The second scene appeared in Gemini’s Redemption in a much-
changed form. Here, again, the character dynamics are a bit
different. Macy now is a leader and, I think, is changed for
the rest of the film. He’s even more aloof, even from
Davies. It’s kind of a shame; I saw a friendship blossoming
there, but I’m afraid they’ll only be flight-mates from here
on in. On the other hand, Davies seems to be getting along
with the others a little better. Steve was a decent guy in
this scene, which surprised me a bit. I think it’s the only
scene in the film where he’s truly nice. Jack appreciates
it.
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4/11/2003 10:18:54 PM
(Updated: 4/12/2003 5:44:20 PM)
(Updated: 4/12/2003 5:48:17 PM)
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