View source for Wing Commander Movie Script First Draft

WING COMMANDER: THE MOVIE

written by

Kevin Droney

(Based upon characters in the game created by Chris Roberts)

Writer's First Draft

October 27, 1995


=="WING COMMANDER"==

FADE IN:

===INT. ASTEROID WORLDLET - CITY PARK===

From above, the park looks like it could be in a small
Midwestern city- -a ten acre expanse of grass and small trees, a
WOMAN reading on a park bench.... Except that two young boys
wearing mylar -like wings actually fly in the extremely light
gravity of the asteroid, whooping joyously as they swoop high
above her. She glances up at them as they play tag.


WOMAN

Don't fly too near the sunlamps!


CHILD

from above)

We won't!


For, in fact, the park is illuminated by huge fusion powered
sunlamps imbedded in the rough -hewn granite "roof" hundreds of
yards overhead, surrounding an enormous porthole, which reveals
the blackness of interstellar space with a few faint stars.
The boys continue their aerial dogfight, flapping their arms,
and "buzzing" a sailor and his girl, who lie on a blanket,
kissing. Laughing, the boys swoop upwards again.



===SUPERIMPOSE: ASTEROID WORLD "PEGASUS ", WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15,
EARTH YEAR 2654, 0940 ZULU TIME.===


A YOUNG MAN walks past the woman on the bench, his dog trotting
eagerly next to him, eyeing the futuristic Frisbee in his
master's hand. Behind them the skyline of a twenty- seventh
century city, part Anasazi cliff dwelling, part Oz, nestles
against the far wall of this hollowed out island in space.


YOUNG MAN

(to dog)

You want this? Do you? Huh?


Finally, the Young Man sends the Frisbee impossibly high over
the dog's head. The dog, however, makes an amazing leap thirty
feet in the air and catches it! But the Young Man continues to
gaze upward at something overhead...



===HIS POV - THROUGH GIANT PORTHOLE===

A strange constellation of luminous dots has now appeared in
the black oval: not stars... something else.



===RESUME PARK===
Air raid sirens begin to wail from the towers of the city. The
Woman, alarmed, jumps up and searches for the children.


WOMAN

Boys! Boys! Come down... now!


She, too looks up through the porthole. We follow her gaze as
we seem to rise up and PLUNGE THROUGH THE PORTHOLE!



===EXT. PORTHOLE - ASTEROID SURFACE===


We take a swift tour via a TRAVELLING SHOT over the rough
surface of the Asteroid World, past fields of antenae, atomic
cooling towers, and berthing docks for ships. Sweeping past
dozens of illuminated portholes, we are suddenly blinded by the
illumination of two monstrously large Ion engines imbedded in
the "rear" of the asteroid, propelling it through space. We
travel past the Asteroid Worldlet (AW) and briefly accompany...
THREE DESTROYER CLASS CONFEDERATION SHIPS which are already streaking to intercept the distant
configuration of lights far in the distance. But we continue
travelling past the destroyers, toward the geometric pattern of
white dots, which resolve into:



===EXT. KILRATHI BATTLE GROUP===


A huge alien vessel, a heavily armored "Dreadnought" class ship
called a Snakeir is at the point of a formation of destroyer
class spacecraft called Ralari. At the center of the battle
group is a carrier -class Kilrathi ship, a Fralthi. Small
fighter craft are disgorged by the carrier, their hydrogen
powered fusion afterburners gleaming like newly minted stars as
they streak toward the approaching Confederation destroyers and
begin engaging them. The black sky is illuminated with lasers
and streaking rockets.



===INT. SNAKEIR (DREADNOUGHT) BRIDGE - ADMIRAL'S FLAGSHIP===
The interior of the huge space vessel is nearly obscured by a
thick, almost viscous green fog: the nutrient atmosphere for
the Kilrathi officers and crew. They are a biped, two -armed
race of beings nearly eight feet tall. But their features are
obscured to us in this mist. Only their eyes, gleaming yellow,
seem to penetrate the dense atmosphere. Their is something
vaguely cat -like about their silhouettes as they move lithely
about the bridge as if they could see clearly...which they can.
Their vision is in the infrared spectrum. A Kilrathi CAPTAIN
approaches the battle group commander, known to us only as the
ADMIRAL.



===ADJUTANT'S POV - INFRARED BAND===
Through his eyes, the fog disappears as he comes up behind the
shadowy figure, standing at the bridge, peering out into space
through a thick window. The Captain speaks in a low hiss in
the Kilrathi language, which we read in subtitles.


KILRATHI CAPTAIN

(Kilrathi; subtitled)

The Asteroid World is protected by
three destroyers, as you predicted,
Admiral. We are enveloping and
eliminating them now.


KILRATHI ADMIRAL

(Kilrathi; subtitled)

I can see that for myself.



===THROUGH WINDOW - SNAKEIR BRIDGE===


The three Confederation destroyers in the middle distance are
being overwhelmed by the dozens of fighters and dive bombers.
Laser flak and torpedo explosions light up the sky. A
Confederation ship splits apart amidships, spewing debris into
the void.


Beyond the scene of the battle the Asteroid Worldlet seems like
a dark, lifeless mass, except for the pinpricks of light from
its portholes.



===RESUME FLAGSHIP BRIDGE===


KILRATHI ADMIRAL

Launch phase two of the attack.


KILRATHI CAPTAIN

Right away, Admiral.

(turns barks order)

Launch phase two!


The order in Kilrathi is hissed several more times. The
Captain turns back to watch through the porthole.



===EXT. ASTEROID WORLDLET===
Kilrathi fighter craft and dive bombers, unimpeded by the
hardpressed destroyers, begin attacking the asteroid surface
with torpedoes, laser beams, and antimatter weapons. A stream
of tachyon canon fire rises from the surface, to counter the
Kilrathi attack. Several Kilrathi craft are destroyed, but are
instantly replaced by others. in the fierce but uneven battle.
One of the huge portholes on the asteroid worldlet, already
cracked, suddenly explodes outward. The asteroid world is
dying.



===INT. PARK - ASTEROID WORLDLET===
The park, shuddering under the many explosions, is deserted
now; the frail mylar bird wings used by one of the boys is
caught in the rush of escaping air, spirals up, up toward a
crack in the porthole overhead, as the life's breath of the
fragile space colony is sucked away.



===EXT. ASTEROID WORLDLET - DOCKS===


A single craft suddenly blasts away from the docks and escapes
the destruction below.



===EXT. DILIGENT===
The escaping merchantman, the Diligent, streaks away from the
battle, heading into deep space toward a distant, disk -like
form in the blackness dead ahead.



===INT. BRIDGE - DILIGENT===
A grim, ruggedly handsome man of indeterninated age, PALADIN,
looking more like a pirate than a merchant, switches on the
Diligent's "jump drive" afterburners. He looks back at the
Asteroid Worldlet one last time, but his feelings are
impossible to read.



===HIS POV - THE ASTEROID WORLD===
The Kilrathi destroyers now replace the fighters, and begins
beaming awesome blasts of antimatter energy onto the surface of
the small, self contained worldlet. Even from this distance,
the destruction already seems too great for anything to
survive.



===EXT. DILIGENT===
The space craft gains speed quickly, and soon looks more like a
streaking comet than anything made by man. It draws a long
light trace toward the center of the luminous whirling cloud
with the black hole in its center.



DISSOLVE TO:

===EXT. POLARIS ROADS "ANCHORAGE" - BEHIND ICE MOON===


The Diligent cruises around the ice moon until a Confederation
Battle Fleet hoves into view, powerful and impressive, with
several carrier class ships, as well as dreadnoughts, cruisers,
destroyers, and a dozen smaller fighters patrolling the
perimeter. Water tankers shuttle from the moon's glacier -like
surface, which has already been deeply carved and hollowed out.
The Diligent heads for...



===EXT. STARBASE - POLARIS ROADS FLEET HEADQUARTERS===
This structure dwarfs all other ships. The Diligent seems an
insignificant speck next to it. Lights gleam from hundreds of
portholes on the starbase.



===SUPERIMPOSE: CONFEDERATION NAVAL BASE: POLARIS ROADS.===
APRIL 3RD, EARTH YEAR 2654, 1500 HOURS, ZULU TIME.
We ZOOM IN on a set of windows, larger than any other, until
we can see two figures. Still closer we see they are
Confederation officers, ADMIRAL TOLWIN, and Captain RICHARD
BELLEGARDE.



===INT. TOLWIN'S OFFICE - STARBASE===


Bellegarde has just heard some very bad news from Tolwin.


BELLEGARDE

The Pegasus?

(beat; realizes)

My God... there were ten thousand
souls on board.


TOLWIN

She was destroyed in the Ullyses
Corridor two weeks ago.


BELLEGARDE

(troubled)

Two weeks ago?


TOLWIN

Attacked by an entire Kilrathi battle
group. She was en route to planet
four thirty -six. Esperance.


BELLEGARDE

We've never seen so much as a Kilrathi
freighter in that sector before.
There was nothing for them there...
except the Pegasus.


TOLWIN

The Pegasus flight plan was top
secret.


BELLEGARDE

It had to be a target of
opportunity... A chance encounter.


TOLWIN

(loud, clear voice)

Socrates, what are the odds that the
Kilrathi accidently discovered the
Pegasus in the Ullyses Corridor?


The voice of Tolwin's Artificial Intelligence Unit, SOCRATES,
instantly replies in a pleasant, business -like tone.


SOCRATES

(voice)

Roughly one chance in a hundred
billion... to the twenty -fifth power.


Both men absorb this information.


BELLEGARDE

They knew.


TOLWIN

So it would seem.

(then; all business)

I want to send a hand carried message
to the Tiger Claw. She's still
patrolling the Charbydis sector.


BELLEGARDE

She's nearly at the end of her tour.


TOLWIN

Not any more. Make out the roster of
new personnel destined for her, and
give me a hard copy, will you,
Richard?


BELLEGARDE

You've got it as soon as I do.


TOLWIN

Thanks.

(senses)

Something else?


BELLEGARDE

Using every known jump point, the
Ullyses Corridor is still three years
of hard travel from here. You got the
news in two weeks. If there's a new
jump point somewhere in my command
sector, I'd like to be informed,
Admiral.


TOLWIN

In due time, Richard.


This doesn't satisfy Bellegarde, but he can't do much about it.
He turns and leaves.



===INT. BLAIR'S QUARTER'S - STARBASE===
The quarters of a lieutenant junior grade fresh out of the
naval academy resembles a medium sized closet. LIEUTENANT j.g.
CHRISTOPHER BLAIR, mid- twenties, literally bounces off the
walls with excitement as he packs his kit bag for departure. A
very small man, about sixteen inches tall, appears to sit on a
shelf just above his head, watching.

7.
This is, in fact, a hologram, projected by Blair's portable
computer, MERLIN.
BLAIR
Who's the captain of the Tiger Claw
and what's his background? What's the
ship's complement? Where is she now?
The hologram looks and acts as if it is speaking. There is a
tinge of bored sarcasm in his tone.
MERLIN
Captain Sansky, twenty -five year
veteran; fought as a junior officer in
the Pilgrim Wars. Been in several
skirmishes with the Kilrathi. One
thousand, two hundred and twelve,
counting you when you sign on. The
Charbydis sector.
BLAIR
You don't have to be sarcastic about
it.
MERLIN
All right...
(dull, computer voice)
Captain Sansky, twenty -five year
veteran; fought in the...
BLAIR
Knock it off.
MERLIN
My thermal sensors are picking up a
high ranking officer in corridor E,
headed this way.
BLAIR
Right, like you can tell it's a big
brass.
MERLIN
Don't believe me. But everybody else
is stopping to salute and stand aside.
By the way, now he's stopped at your
door.
Blair is too puzzled to give a snappy reply. Then his door
buzzer sounds, startling him.
BLAIR
Make yourself scarce.
The hologram vanishes. Blair pushes a button and it slides
away to reveal Admiral Tolwin standing there. At first Blair
is just frozen. Then he snaps off a salute, banging his elbow
against the narrow wall.

8.
BLAIR
Admiral Tolwin... sir!
TOLWIN
As you were, Lieutenant.
(amused hesitation)
May I enter?
BLAIR
If you can squeeze in, sir.
Tolwin does so; finds the button and closes the door behind
him. In the tight quarters, he is nearly nose to nose with the
extremely nervous junior officer.
TOLWIN
They're not making a j.g.'s quarters
any bigger than when I shipped out.
BLAIR
That would be during the Pilgrim Wars,
wouldn't it, sir?
TOLWIN
You've been doing your homework.
BLAIR
My father was Arthur Blair. He served
with you, sir.
TOLWIN
That's why I'm here, Lieutenant. How
is your father, and your mother?
BLAIR
Ah...! They're fine, sir. My mother
is chief botonist on Agadez, terrafarm
number three. My father is...
TOLWIN
As good an historian as he was a
pilot. I've read most of his work.
BLAIR
You have?
TOLWIN
(amused)
You don't think an admiral should have
other interests, Lieutenant?
BLAIR
I didn't think... you had the time.
TOLWIN
Without a firm grasp of history, I'd
be a piss poor strategist.

9.
BLAIR
Yes, sir.
TOLWIN
I have something for you, Blair. Top
secret.
He holds up a small microdisk, which glints in the light.
BLAIR
(confused)
For me, sir?
TOLWIN
For Captain Sansky on the Tiger Claw.
I don't trust our radio frequencies,
and you'll get to the Charbydis sector
faster than a drone. You hand deliver
it. Understood?
BLAIR
Aye, aye, sir.
TOLWIN
(starts to go)
Give my best to your parents in your
next communication.
And with that, Tolwin opens the door to leave, while Blair
stares, baffled.
BLAIR
Admiral?
Tolwin turns, already outside in the corridor.
BLAIR
I... most of the officers at the
academy didn't trust me because my
mother was a Pilgrim.
TOLWIN
That's why I chose you, Blair. You've
got something to prove.
And with an enigmatic smile, Tolwin pushes the button and
closes the sliding door.
INT. CORRIDOR - STAR BASE
Blair hurries testily down the corridor, hauling his heavy kit
back, and apparently talking to himself.

BLAIR
Why didn't you tell me the Old Man
knew my dad?
MERLIN
(voice only)
Your father asked me not to. I used
to be its PPC.
BLAIR
You're my PPC, now. Why are you
still obeying his orders?
MERLIN
Old habits die hard.
BLAIR
Now you sound like my dad. I could
trade you in on a much newer model.
MERLIN
You'd miss all the good times we've
had together.
BLAIR
I'll get over it.
10.
As he rounds a corner, glancing up at a number and letter
stencilled on the corridor wall, he runs into another young
pilot, TODD "MANIAC" MARSHALL, who smirks.
MANIAC
Talking to yourself Blair? They say
the grey cells go first out in space.
BLAIR
Marshall! What are you doing here?
MANIAC
Looking for transport to the Tiger
Claw, same as you.
BLAIR
You're assigned to the Tiger Claw?
MANIAC
Somebody's got to look out for a screw
up like you.
BLAIR
Yeah, like you did at the Academy.
That head on flyby nearly killed us
both.
MANIAC
We had inches to spare. You worry too
much.

11.
They stop before a gate, and wait for it to hiss open.
INT. SPACE DOCK - STAR BASE
The door finally opens, revealling the scorched, paintflecked
form of the Diligent.
MANIAC
We're going to the Tiger Claw in that?
They won't let us land on the flight
deck.
Paladin comes up behind them.
PALADIN
Not only are you going on it... you're
my crew.
BLAIR
No way. We're officers in the Confed
Navy.
PALADIN
Not on my ship.
BLAIR
Forget it. We'll find other
transport.
PALADIN
Suit yourself. Shop around until you
find something suitable to your high
station. I hear the Navy is very
understanding about reporting late for
assignment.
Maniac and Blair exchange a glance, then step into the space
dock, each glancing up at the big craft.
PALADIN
(veiled sarcasm)
If you two gentlemen would be kind
enough to climb aboard.
They go up the ramp, with a last doubtful look at the
Diligent's worn exterior.
EXT. STAR BASE
The Diligent ejects through the open space dock, fires its
engines, and moves slowly through the heavy traffic of the
Polaris Roads, dwarfed by the half -carved ice moon. Then it
gains speed and moves away.

12.
INT. DILIGENT - TINY CABIN
Maniac barely squeezes in. He finds a space hammock and starts
to string it across the bulkhead, when Blair opens the door,
banging into him.
BLAIR
This is my cabin.
MANIAC
No it isn't.
Paladin appears in the door.
PALADIN
It's both your quarters.
BLAIR
What? How...?
PALADIN
You won't be spending much time here,
and you alternate watches. You're in
the Merchant Marine now. Stow
your gear and meet me on the bridge.
Paladin disappears.
MANIAC
(dead pan)
I really don't like him.
BLAIR
Merchant man, my ass. I think he's a
pirate. Maybe he's selling us both
into slavery.
PALADIN (O.S.)
(from bridge intercom)
Blair! Marshall! To the bridge! Now!
MANIAC
We're already slaves.
Both lieutenants crowd out of the tiny cell.
EXT. DEEP SPACE - NEAR BLACK HOLE - DAYS LATER
The Black Hole is an impressive whirling disk of luminous gas
with its trademark black center - the ev3ent horizon beyond
which even light cannot escape. The Diligent moves perilously
close to the outer fringes of the gaseous disk.

13.
INT. CHART ROOM - DILIGENT
Paladin calmly charts his course on a holographic grid model,
taking up half the bridge. Blair is at the helm, studying him.
BLAIR
What magnitude is the jump point?
Maniac comes up on the bridge.
PALADIN
A three. Just a little stone skip
across the pond. I'm sure you've made
bigger jumps than that.
MANIAC
Blair's never made a jump. Grew up
and went to the Acadamy without
leaving the sector he was born in.
PALADIN
Really? Well, then we'll have to give
him the helm. He needs the practice.
Both Blair and Maniac react.
MANIAC
(truly worried)
You're not serious.
PALADIN
First time for everything.
And with that, Paladin plugs the last coordinates in and pushes
a button. Suddenly, the holographic grid begins to fold
inward, creating a strange spike in the concave surface. This
is the "jump point ", an indentation in the space time
continuum. Paladin puts his hand on the tip of the spike.
PALADIN
The black hole is down here. It's
gravity distorts the time, space
continuum.
(moves hands to broad end
of spike)
We want to cross here, jump over the
intervening space, and arrive on the
other side.
(checks readout)
For a net savings of six months
travel, even at light mach point nine.
Of course, if we miss, bad things
happen.
MANIAC
Yeah, we get pulled into the event
horizon like a long string of
spagetti, one molecule at a time...

14.
BLAIR
You could stand to slim down a little,
Maniac.
PALADIN
Plot your course, Mister Blair.
Blair is as worried as Maniac, but he bends over the computer
console.
BLAIR
Coordinates locked in.
Paladin studies the console.
PALADIN
Good. Accelerate to point nine.
Blair moves a control. The ship lurches, throwing Maniac off
balance.
BLAIR
You might want to strap yourself in.
Maniac glares and obeys. Smiling, Paladin slips into the seat
next to Blair. Some tenseness in his shoulders is all that
gives away his intent to grab the controls, if necessary.
BLAIR
The readouts are changing.
PALADIN
Ignore them. The gravity from the
Black Hole is slowing the computer
computations. Stay on manual overide
and stick with the original course.
A warning COMPUTER VOICE suddenly speaks.
COMPUTER VOICE
(over loudspeaker)
Attention! Alter course immediately.
Gravitational pull exceeds thrust.
Alter course immediately.
Blair glances at Paladin, very worried.
PALADIN
Ignore that, too. Trust your own
computations.
Maniac is nearly frozen in his seat.
MANIAC
Who says his course was right to begin
with?

PALADIN
(ironic)
We'll soon know.
15.
Maniac almost comes out of his seat to grab the controls.
MANIAC
This is crazy. I say we abort.
Paladin grabs Maniac's arm in a vice -like grip, and looks into
his eyes.
BLAIR
Maybe he's right! I could have
screwed up!
Blair reaches for the controls. Paladin stops him.
PALADIN
(calm)
You have to trust yourself. Do you?
Blair hesitates, then focuses on the blur of readouts flashing
across the screen. The Computer Voice drones on.
COMPUTER VOICE
Warning. Gravitational pull exceeds
thrust. Alter course immediately.
BLAIR
(recovering)
Minus six and counting....
OUTSIDE THE BRIDGE
the luminous gas disk looms very large, the black hole seems to
beckon ominously.
ON THE CONSOLE
the digital countdown continues, 4, 3, 2, 1
ON THE BRIDGE
There is a tremendous shudder as some barrier is breached...
Maniac lets out a strangled cry... then everything is frozen in
time. The readouts cease, the three men are motionless.
OUTSIDE THE BRIDGE
there are no stars, no luminous disk... only the black Void.
From our perspective, this lasts for many seconds, then... an
even more violent shudder which throws everyone in the cabin
forward. The ship shimmies wildly, and Paladin reaches out and
adjusts a stabilizer control. The ride smooths.
OUTSIDE THE BRIDGE

16.
There is no sign of the luminous disk and the black hole, only
new and unfamiliar stars, and distant planets.
PALADIN
Gentlemen, welcome to the Charbydis
sector.
Both young lieutenants are too abashed to say anything.
Paladin doesn't rub it in. Blair sees something on a screen.
BLAIR
Getting a strong beacon signal at
three o'clock.
PALADIN
Set your course for it, Mister Blair.
Paladin leaves the bridge. Blair steers the ship around in
line with the beacon signal. Neither speaks.
EXT. DEEP SPACE - CHARYBIDIS SECTOR
The Diligent turns and sets its new course. We can hear the
steady beeping of the "beacon signal" from the navigation
equipment. In the distance, an immense black hole, surrounded
not only by whirling gas clouds, but by entire suns, looms into
view. This is the Charbydis Quasar.
INT. DILIGENT - PALADIN'S QUARTERS
Paladin's door is open. Blair appears. Paladin is studying an
ancient star chart.
PALADIN
Come in, Blair
Blair steps into the quarters, spartan at best. A cold meal is
scattered over the old star charts.
BLAIR
I reduced speed as you requested.
Holding steady on that beacon. Maniac
has the helm.
Good. Hungry?
I could eat.
Help yourself.
PALADIN
BLAIR
PALADIN
As Blair makes himself a sandwich, he sees the old star charts.

17.
BLAIR
These must be antiques.
PALADIN
Made by the first explorers in the
sector. Sometimes they noted
something that was missed in later
surveys.
BLAIR
(reads)
The Ulysses Corridor. That's three
years of hard travel from here, isn't
it?
PALADIN
That depends.
BLAIR
(suspicious)
The Pegasus was attacked in the
Ulysses Corridor.
PALADIN
So I've heard.
(changes subject)
You were born on Agadez.
BLAIR
That's right. Been there?
PALADIN
The first time I saw Agadez, it was
nothing but sand.
BLAIR
(realizes)
We've had colonies on Agadez for
eighty years.
PALADIN
That'd be about right.
BLAIR
Then...
PALADIN
I'm a hundred and five in planet
years.
(tinge of sadness)
And some days, I feel like it.
BLAIR
That's a lot of time flying around at
near light speed.

18.
PALADIN
I suppose. I lost track a long time
ago. It's hard seeing friends on
your home planet grow old and die...
while you look in the mirror and
notice a few wrinkles and a little
hair in your ears.
BLAIR
That's why my dad gave up flying. He
wanted to grow old with my mother.
PALADIN
Wise man.
Just then, the ship lurches with a sudden surge of
acceleration.
BLAIR
He's accelerating.
PALADIN
The bloody fool!
And Paladin flies out of the cabin.
INT. BRIDGE - DILIGENT
Paladin storms onto the bridge, followed by Blair.
PALADIN
Get up!
Maniac vacates the captain's chair. Paladin studies the
instruments.
PALADIN
Did you change course?
MANIAC
No, just boosted the power. Why dog
it when we can be at that beacon in an
hour?
PALADIN
It's not a beacon, you cretin, it's a
collapsed neutron star!
This galvanizes both Blair and Maniac. Paladin uses a
telescopic lens to bring up a dim object on the screen, a
blurred image of a spinning rock, generating a powerful radio
beam! Paladin begins firing reverse thrusters, throwing the
two younger men forward as he slowly alters course.
PALADIN
One teaspoon of that rock weighs more
than your home planets combined!

19.
The Diligent's skin begins to groan and creak.
BLAIR
Are we past her gravitational PNR,
yet?
Paladin feverishly throws switches, concentrated makes adjustments, totally on the task. The spinning neutron star appears closer.
PALADIN
Not quite yet. But she's reaching out
for us. Hear that?
The groans increase, as the thrusters fight to change course. On the screen the neutron star appears larger and more ominous.
PALADIN
Gentleman, meet Scylla, bane to
sailors, and monster of myth.
MANIAC
What's a Scylla?
BLAIR
Ulysses sailed between the whirlpool
Charbydis and the island monster,
Scylla. She snatched six of his men
and ate them.
PALADIN
Very good. But This one will eat more
than that. Hold on.
Paladin flips a switch, and a bank of thrusters throws the ship sideways. The Diligent yaws for a few moments, as every seam groans. Maniac and Blair are thrown to the deck. The ships' afterburners scream. Then the ship lurches free.
PALADIN
(to the screen)
Broken your grip, old girl. Better
luck, next time.
Paladin takes out the afterburners. On the screen, the spinning neutron star seems to recede and move toward the edge of the monitor.
MANIAC
You should have told us.
PALADIN
Yes. I should have.
He punches in a few coordinates on the console.
PALADIN
This is your new course. Carry on.

Paladin goes below decks.
MANIAC
That guy is seriously weird.
BLAIR
He's got an old star chart of the
Ulysses Corridor in his cabin.
MANIAC
Ulysses Corridor? He couldn't have
been there when the Pegasus got
zapped. Could he?
BLAIR
Traders and pirates know more about
jump points than anybody at Confed
headquarters.
MANIAC
So?
BLAIR
So, the guy's been out in space for
ninety planet years. No friends, no
living relatives anywhere. Loyalties
change if the price is right.
MANIAC
Come on. No Terran can do business
with the Kilrathi. He'd have to be
nuts.
BLAIR
Maybe he is.
EXT. CHARBYDIS SECTOR
20.
Two Confederation Sabre fighters streak across the blackness
toward a distant fleck, reflecting light from a distant sun.
CLOSER
The fleck resolves itself into the Diligent.
INT. DILIGENT BRIDGE
Blair is at the con. Paladin has been summoned to the bridge.
Maniac joins them.
BLAIR
Fighters from the Tiger Claw. They've
queried us.
PALADIN
Send the countersign.

21.
Blair punches a button. A coded burst crackles over the
intercom. Followed by another burst.
BLAIR
Identification acknowledged. They'll
escort us in.
EXT. DILIGENT AND SABERS
The two star fighters bracket the larger merchantman. The
three craft now head for another distant fleck half illuminated
in the distance. The Tiger Claw.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
The three craft slowly approach the carrier class capital ship.
The huge flight deck doors open, catching the Diligent and the
fighters in a a broad beam of yellow light. The Diligent fires
its boosters and eases into the flight deck. The huge doors
close. The Sabers bank sharply in unison and veer away to
continue their patrol.
INT. FLIGHT DECK - TIGER CLAW
Marine guards scan the identity badges and examine the orders
of the two new lieutenants, MOS,then step back and salute.
Paladin's ID is also electronically scanned. The flight deck
is orderly and relatively quiet: only yellow clad deck
personnel and the Marine guards. The three walk a toward the
elevators.
PALADIN
Well, gentlemen, don't think I haven't
enjoyed your company.
MANIAC
Yeah, anytime you need slave labor,
keep us in mind.
An elevator opens, going up. Paladin steps in.
PALADIN
Good luck.
The doors close.
MANIAC
He sure keeps his priorities straight.
Another elevator arrives, going down, they get on.
BLAIR
(still suspicious)
Yeah. Now that he's delivered us,
he's off to see the paymaster.

22.
INT. HANGAR DECK
Another huge deck, this one bustling with flight crews, and
pilots. Gleaming sabers are arranged in rows. A group of
larger Broadsword medium bombers occupy part of the deck.
Maniac and Blair tote their kit bags among the rows.
MANIAC
I don't see the X.O.
He spots a beautiful blond, in grease covered overalls, working
on a Broadsword.
MANIAC
I'll reconnoiter, over there.
He moves off and engages the blond in conversation, MOS. Blair
shakes his head, ducks under the Broadswords belly and
continues on. He stops and admires a Saber, its cockpit open,
allowing himself to daydream. He is distracted by a feminine
voice behind him.
DEVERAUX
Looking for something?
He turns. ANGELICA (ANGEL) DEVERAUX is brunette, looks about
thirty -two, her hair up, wearing an oilstained jumpsuit. She
has a streak of carbon lubricant across an otherwise
unblemished and beautiful face. She has a socket wrench in one
hand, and a small x -ray scanner in the other, which she is
holding up to another Saber, and examining the read out it
gives her.
BLAIR
Uh, no. Just admiring. I'll be
flying one of these.
DEVERAUX
And you would be...?
BLAIR
Blair. Lieutenant Blair.
DEVERAUX
Fresh bait, huh? You need to report
to the X.O. He's over there.
BLAIR
Actually I need to see Captain Sansky.
DEVERAUX
(amused; cool)
Really?

23.
BLAIR
Special orders.
DEVERAUX
I see. Top secret and all that.
Blair sees that he's not impressing her as much as he'd like.
BLAIR
That's right.
DEVERAUX
Well, then, maybe you shouldn't be
talking to me about them.
This really takes the wind out of Blair's to a tall officer, sails. Deveraux nods Commander PAUL GERALD.
DEVERAUX
Commander Gerald's over there. He'll
take you to the Old Man.
Blair picks up his kit bag, and reads the name off of her jumpsuit.
BLAIR
Thanks, Deveraux. Maybe I'll be
seeing you around.
DEVERAUX
Count on it.
Blair walks over to the X.O., Gerald, and salutes as Deveraux watches.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Blair salutes nervously, and hands over the mini -disk to CAPTAIN SANSKY, an affable older officer.
SANSKY
Thank you, lieutenant.
(squints at disk)
Why didn't the admiral just send a
drone.
BLAIR
Maybe he just thought it would get
here faster with me.
SANSKY
Undoubtedly. Well, I'm glad to meet
you, Lieutenant. I pride myself in
knowing all of my officers, even the
most junior.

24.
BLAIR
Yes, sir. That... would be me, sir.
Sansky smiles. Gerard watches stonefaced.
SANSKY
Commander Gerald gave you a little
tour of our ship, did he?
GERALD
Just what we could see on the way to
the bridge, Captain.
SANSKY
(to Blair)
The Tiger's Claw is a fine old lady,
Lieutenant. Saw service in the
Pilgrim Wars. Thoroughly refitted, of
course. She's ready for a fight.
BLAIR
She may get one, sir.
Both Gerard and Sansky look puzzled.
SANSKY
You appear to know something, we
don't, Lieutenant.
BLAIR
The Asteroid World Pegasus was
attacked and destroyed in the Ulysses
Corridor a few weeks ago.
SANSKY
Then how did they know at Polaris
Roads? Normal communication links
would take three years.
BLAIR
I wouldn't know that, sir. Perhaps
the disk...?
SANSKY
(remembers)
Of course. Carry on, Lieutenant.
You've got your quarters assignment.
BLAIR
Yes sir.
Blair salutes to go.
GERALD
(reflects)
You wouldn't be related to Arnold
Blair, would you?

25.
BLAIR
My father, sir.
GERALD
He married a Pilgrim woman, didn't he?
BLAIR
(crestfallen)
Yes sir. They live on Agadez.
Sansky is interested, now, and observes Blair closely.
GERALD
Glad to see it worked out. These
mixed marriages seldom do, you know.
Pilgrims don't think like us.
BLAIR
I wouldn't know, sir.
GERALD
No. But then, you're half Pilgrim
yourself.
SANSKY
(stepping in)
I'm sure that will have no bearing on
Blair's performance, here, Mister
Gerald.
GERALD
No sir. I'm sure it won't.
SANSKY
That's all, Lieutenant.
Blair can barely contain his anger and disappointment as he
turns and leaves the bridge.
INT. BLAIR'S QUARTERS - TIGER CLAW
The cubicle is bigger than at the star base, but not by much.
Blair angrily throws his belongings into the closet.
BLAIR
It never changes.
Merlin, in small holographic form, seems to watch him.
MERLIN
You're referring to Commander Gerald's
remarks.
BLAIR
You heard him.

26.
MERLIN
I hear everything.
BLAIR
"Pilgrim's don't think like us."
MERLIN
From a strictly analytical standpoint,
that's probably true. Your mother
aside, most Pilgrim's are guided by
emotion and dogma, not reason, or even
self interest. Their fanatical
attachment to an idealized past
separates them from other humans....
BLAIR
(recognizes this)
"...Who yearn for an idealized
future." I hate it when you quote my
father's books.
MERLIN
(abruptly)
Somebody at the door.
BLAIR
And I hate that, too.
The buzzer sounds. Blair punches a button and the door slides
open. Angel Deveraux stands there, now in full uniform,
wearing her lieutenant commander's insignia. Blair is too
shocked to move for a moment, then he snaps to attention and
salutes.
BLAIR
Ma'am!
DEVERAUX
At ease, Lieutenant.
BLAIR
Ma'am, I didn't realize... Down in the
hangar bay, I - -.
DEVERAUX
Forget about that. I am your Wing
Commander, Mr. Blair. You will be
serving directly under my command.
She makes a rapid inspection of his quarters, still a mess from
the unpacking. She sees the little Merlin hologram.
DEVERAUX
I see you brought your toys.
Embarrassed, Blair clicks off the Hologram.

27.
DEVERAUX
You don't have your act together, yet,
do you Mister Deveraux?
BLAIR
I had to see the Captain. I just --
DEVERAUX
I wasn't talking about your quarters,
Mister. You're still back at the
academy, trying to impress women,
showing off your brand new pilot's
wings. Waiting for them to swoon.
BLAIR
(irked)
If you say so, Ma'am.
DEVERAUX
(challenging)
I do say so. We are on a capital ship
in a war zone, Mister. School is out.
You'll be flying with men and women
who have seen combat; who have lost
comrades.... They can't wait for you
to grow up. Their lives depend on
you.
BLAIR
(chastised)
Yes, Ma'am.
DEVERAUX
I'll be giving a new pilot orientation
at Zulu eighteen hundred hours in
briefing room one. That's all.
Blair comes to attention and salutes. Deveraux glances once
more around the untidy quarters, and leaves. The door slides
shut. Merlin reappears in hologram.
MERLIN
That went well.
INT. CHART ROOM - TIGER CLAW
A full -sized hologram of Admiral Tolwin appears to speak
directly to Sansky and Gerald, who listen to the message.
TOLWIN
(hologram)
To accomplish these secret orders,
gentlemen, you are to enlist the
services of James Paladin, who is
currently aboard your ship.

28.
GERALD
(startled)
That Privateer! The Old Man's lost
his mind.
TOLWIN
(as if he's heard)
You may find this surprising.
(pause; small smile)
But Paladin knows the Ulysses
better than anyone in the
Confederation. And he knows
take you there... quickly.
Corridor
how to
SANSKY
I knew it. There is a secret jump
point.
TOLWIN
Paladin will brief you, himself. I
think you'll find the route he
suggests to be very... interesting.
GERALD
If Tolwin trusts that old pirate, his
cerebral arteries are starting to
harden.
SANSKY
(as Tolwin continues)
Shhh.
TOLWIN
One more thing, Captain Sansky. This
entire mission will be conducted under
strict radio silence. No messages,
even coded, should be transmitted back
to me except by drone. And all drones
must be fighter escorted to the jump
point.
GERALD
What's that all about?
SANSKY
I don't know.
TOLWIN
Your mission is risky gentlemen. But
if it succeeds, you will open a back
door on the Kilrathi fleet. The
course of the entire war may depend
upon your mission. Stealth and
surprise are the watchwords. Avoid
any contact with the Kilrathi, unless
attacked. Good luck, gentlemen.

29.
The message ends and the hologram vanishes. Gerald goes to a
console and pushes a button, ejecting the microdisk.
GERALD
I don't like it.
SANSKY
No one asked your opinion, Paul.
Orders are orders.
GERALD
I don't mean that. This disk came to
us on the Diligent, entrusted to a
Pilgrim half- breed.
SANSKY
That's enough, Commander.
BLAIR
Paladin could have accessed it!
SANSKY
(amused)
You're saying he decoded the disk, and
changed it?
GERALD
Stranger things have happened in this
war. The Old Man thinks our
communications have been compromised.
Maybe that includes this one.
SANSKY
You've been out here too long, Paul.
You're seeing spies under the
bedcovers.
GERALD
The route taken by the Pegasus was top
secret. Only the commanders of a few
capital ships knew where it would be
at any given time. Somebody told
them. Somebody who "knows the Ulysses
Corridor better than anyone in the
Confederation."
Sansky ponders this; then rejects it.
SANSKY
The disk was encrypted with the
Admiral's own code. I don't believe
it could have been tampered with by
anyone on the Diligent. Send for
Paladin. Let's hear about this "back
door" to the Kilrathi fleet.
Gerald, still upset, leaves to obey. Alone, Sansky drops his
mask of complacency. He's worried.

30.
INT. PILOT'S MESS
The fighter pilots of the Tiger Claw relax around the Spartan
eating and recreation area. Several sprawl, zonked out with
virtual reality glasses on their noses, while others drink
coffee and chat. Blair stares out the large portholes and the
swirling disk of luminous gas, suns and worlds around the void
at the heart of the Charbydis Quasar. Three pilots in
Deveraux's wing, POLANSKI, ABBOT, and FORBES, a wise- cracking
woman, are giving Maniac the rookie treatment.
POLANSKI
Of course, we lose most fresh bait on
their first carrier landing.
MANIAC
Yeah, right.
POLANSKI
Remember Bischoff?
(somber)
Yeah.
And Shannon.
Came in too hot.
ABBOT
FORBES
ABBOT
MANIAC
Get off it. I've done dozens of
carrier landings at the academy.
POLANSKI
Not after a skirmish. Cannons still
hot, nerves twitching all over your
face, sweat in your eyes. Hands still
shaking. Remember Gunther?
The other two nod somberly in unison. Blair, behind them
smells a joke. He smiles without turning.
ABBOT
And what's her name...? Costello.
That was the worst. Her first
dogfight, and, after it's over, she
just says over the intercom... "Sure is
hot in here..." and poof, she ejects.
Nothing wrong with her ship or
nothing, just jettisons out into an
asteroid field.
POLANSKI
We never found her pod. Let it all
get to her, I guess. But you know....

31.
He looks at Abbot, who nods. Forbes gets belligerant.
FORBES
What? She was a woman? It's a
statistical fact women can outfly and
outshoot men.
Several of the male pilots groan. They've heard this before.
But the women pilots egg her on: "Blast, "em, Rosie." "Tell
it, girl," etc.
FORBES
We do better at multi- tasking, we can
keep track of four enemy fighters on
the screens... and we don't let all
that testosterone cloud our judgement.
The women pilots ad lib their approval. "Got that straight."
And "Cool as a moonbeam ", etc.
POLANSKI
Yeah, Forbes, you got ice water in
your veins, we all know.
FORBES
Just 'cause I ain't got the hots for
you, Shorty.
More, "oohs" and groans from everyone. Blair turns.
BLAIR
So what's it really like to take on
the Kilrathi?
This actually shuts everyone up. Is this guy for real?
BLAIR
I mean, what tactics do they use?
POLANSKI
(shining him on)
The usual stuff you learn at the
academy. They fly in slow, turn on
their landing lights and waggle their
wings to get your attention.
ABBOT
Then they turn sideways to give you a
better shot.
BLAIR
Thanks.
Forbes takes pity on the good looking newcomer.

32.
FORBES
You don't see them until they're above
you, pouring laser fire into your
hull.
The other pilots grow serious, now. No more jokes.
FORBES
They wait behind space rocks you
wouldn't think could hide a
basketball. They use the shadow of a
planet to break up their radar and
infrared signature, then come at you
from below and rip your ship's belly
open.
All chatter has ceased in the mess hall. Everyone listens.
FORBES
And if that don't work, if you smelled
them coming anyway... if you're
getting the best of them, they turn
and ram you.
MANIAC
But...
FORBES
They don't care if they die. Just so
they take you with them.
MANIAC
That's crazy.
BLAIR
Not to them. They're raised from
children to be warriors... like the
Spartans.
MANIAC
Don't listen to him. He's a bookworm.
FORBES
He's right. Kilrathi were making war
in space while humans were still
throwing rocks and each other. You
know what we are to them...?
ABBOT
Target Practice?
A few snickers, then....
FORBES
Fresh bait.

33.
This has a darkening effect on everyone present. Forbes
realizes she's taking everybody somwhere they don't want to
dwell. So to lighten it....
FORBES
Just like these two green guavas,
here. Fresh bait.
This gets Blair and Maniac a general razzing from all present.
MANIAC
Yeah, yeah. You'll see who's green.
ABBOT
So what's handle they give you, guava
boy?
BLAIR
Maniac.
FORBES
Why, or should I ask?
BLAIR
Just fly with him once. You'll see.
MANIAC
It ain't my flying. I got that handle
in the bedroom.
More catcalls and general razzing. Forbes grins, sizing up the
muscular man in front of her.
FORBES
You got things backwards, fish
food. You're supposed to drive
the woman crazy!
This brings cheers from the women pilots. But Maniac and
Forbes have locked eyes. Something going on here.
MANIAC
Oh, I try.
To hide her attraction, Forbes turns to Blair.
FORBES
What about you, Blair? Got a
monniker?
BLAIR
Just call me, "Ace."
More razzing from the group.

34.
POLANSKI
Only one ace on board the Claw,
dickhead. Nobody else has survived
long enough.
BLAIR
Who's that?
ABBOT
Angel Deveraux.
BLAIR
Lieutenant Commander Deveraux?
FORBES
That's right. Best pilot on board is
a woman. I rest my case.
She does a high five with a black woman pilot.
MANIAC
Angel? What kinda handle is that?
POLANSKI
We call her that cause she ain't no
kind of one. She's got a temper
that'll melt down a thermal shield.
When she gets mad, you clear the deck
and head for the lifeboats.
ABBOT
You get it perfect, or you get it
wrong, that's her motto.
MANIAC
Great. Another annal retentive C.O.
FORBES
Yeah? Well she's survived more
battles than any of you dick for
brains. Maybe she's just smarter than
the rest of us.
ABBOT
(to Blair)
So, you got a handle, or not?
MANIAC
That's the Dodger. One day, we're
coming in hot onto the deck, when some
damn fool driving a cart pulls out
onto the LZ towing a rack of bombs.
Deveraux comes through the doors, unseen, and hangs back to
listen.

35.
MANIAC
The Dodger man lifts his nose up and
reverses his starboard retros. Hops
clear over the bomb wrack and lands
his trainer ass backwards. Here's the
best part: The instructors spent the
next month trying to duplicate the
maneuver. Couldn't do it.
Polanski sees Deveraux, first.
POLANSKI
Attention on deck!
The crew barely have time to stand at attention, when:
DEVERAUX
As you were. Blair. With me.
And just as abruptly, she turns and leaves.
MANIAC
Looks like you screwed up again.
BLAIR
Shut up.
But Blair is worried as he follows Deveraux out.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Blair, now wearing his flight suit, watches as his starfighter,
a fully armed Saber, comes up on the elevator from the hangar
bay. Then Deveraux steps up next to him, suited up for a
mission as well. She stops to admire.
DEVERAUX
Beautiful, isn't she?
BLAIR
Yes, Ma'am.
DEVERAUX
Your first mission. Try not to screw
it up. You don't want to get off on
the wrong foot with me.
BLAIR
I thought I already had.
DEVERAUX
No. When you piss me off, you'll know
it. And you will piss me off,
"Dodger ". I can feel it.
Blair is too surprised to speak. She moves toward her Saber.

36.
BLAIR
Ma'am. Just what is the mission?
DEVERAUX
We're escorting a message drone as far
as the jump point. It will be picked
up and escorted back to Polaris roads
by fighters on the other side of the
jump.
BLAIR
Is that SOP?
DEVERAUX
There is no Standard Operating
Procedure out here, Blair. Ever seen
a Kilrathi...?
BLAIR
No, Ma'am, I haven't.
DEVERAUX
They don't have Standard procedures
either. They'll do whatever is
necessary to kill us and kill our
ships. They invented this kind of
warfare. We're just trying to stay
even with them out here.
She climbs up into her cockpit.
BLAIR
Sound like you're doing okay,
Commander.
He nods to her saber, which shows six Kilrathi kills marked on
its fuselage.
DEVERAUX
I'm one mission ahead of the law of
averages, Lieutenant. The curve will
catch up to me, sooner or later.
She puts on her helmet. Blair ponders that for a second, then
turns and hurries to his own fighter.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
The huge flight deck door gapes open, spilling a long beam of
light. The two Sabers leap through the air lock curtain into
space.
FURTHER OUT
The Sabers hover and watch the Tiger Claw, as a small guided
message drone is launched. As the drone alters course, the
Sabers bracket it and follow along.

37.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Paladin is on the bridge with Gerald and Sansky, as well as the
helmsmen, and others. They watch the three points of light
disappear through the huge bay windows.
PALADIN
Escorting the drones, now? Security
is pretty tight.
GERALD
That's not your problem, Paladin.
PALADIN
I don't have any problems, Mister
Gerald. Do you?
SANSKY
All right gentlemen, lets get down to
business. Shall we go to the chart
room?
PALADIN
Are those Sabers going back to Polaris
Roads, or will they rendezvous with
us, later?
SANSKY
Just why do you ask, Mister Paladin?
PALADIN
It will affect the speed and course I
set. Unless you want to strand your
own fighters in space, Captain.
SANSKY
They'll escort the drones to the jump
point, then return. I've already
given them an intercept course based
upon our own. It shouldn't affect
your work.
PALADIN
You're way ahead of me, Captain.
SANSKY
Just get us through your secret jump
point, Mister Paladin. Let us worry
about the rest.
And Sansky continues on into the chart room. Gerald glares
coldly at Paladin, who seems unperplexed.

38.
INT. DEEP SPACE - CHARBYDIS SECTOR
The three pin points of light pass by a deserted planet, the
light from a nearby star, throws it into half light, half
shadow.
INT. SABER COCKPIT - DEVERAUX
Deveraux is scanning her "heads up" display. There is a blip.
Then it disappears.
DEVERAUX
(over radio)
Baker One to Baker Two.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. SABER COCKPIT - BLAIR
BLAIR
(over radio)
Roger, Baker One. I thought we were
under radio silence.
DEVERAUX
We're on a high frequency, short range
band. Anything close enough to hear
us is too damn close. Did you see a
blip on your radar screen, down_near
the planet?
BLAIR
Negative, Baker One.
(then; sees on screen)
Correction. I just saw something.
Now it's gone. Could be a small
meteor, captured by the planet's
gravity.
DEVERAUX
Or it could be a stealth craft. We're
getting glimpses when it comes about.
Stay alert.
BLAIR
Roger.
MERLIN
(voice only)
I'm receiving a long range, low
frequency signal.
BLAIR
What? Give me a direction?

39.
MERLIN
(voice only)
It appears to be coming from quadrant
thirty.
BLAIR
That's near the Tiger Claw? What's it
saying?
MERLIN
The code isn't in my vocabulary.
EXT. MESSAGE DRONE
The drone continues to fly in a straight line, still
accompanied by the Sabers. Then, without warning it veers off
sharply and heads for the planet. A split second later, Blair
banks hard left, and dives after it.
INT. SABER COCKPIT - BLAIR
He keeps the drone in sight in front of him as it hurtles
toward the pockmarked and airless planet below.
BLAIR
(over radio)
The drone's malfunctioning. She's out
of control.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. SABER COCKPIT - DEVERAUX
Banks and turns, following Blair's fighter, and the drone. But
he is between the two. She tries several switches.
DEVERAUX
It's a runaway. Bank left, Baker Two.
I'm going to hit the kill switch.
BLAIR
Roger.
And, as she watches, his Saber banks left. Her gloved hand
reaches down to a guarded red switch, opens it, flicks it.
Nothing happen.
DEVERAUX
The self- destruct mechanism isn't
responding.
In fact, as she watches, the drone begins to weave, as if
purposefully evading the escort.

40.
BLAIR
I'm going in for a shot.
DEVERAUX
No. Stand off, Baker Two.
Deveraux poses her thumb over the fire command switch on her
joy stick; then Blair's Saber veers between her and the drone,
which is snaking through the sky as if deliberately trying to
shake it.
BLAIR
Commencing fire.
EXT. DRONE AND SABERS
Laser cannon fire streaks through space. Blair leads the drone
well. It is struck.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
Banking left!
He goes left, and Deveraux reflexively banks hard right, just
before the drone explodes. There is no noise in space, just a
spray of sparks, debris, and white hot gas.
INT. SABER COCKPIT - DEVERAUX
She looks at her radio screen. Is there a blip there, lost in
the clutter of the drone's debris?
DEVERAUX
(angry; over radio)
Baker Two, form up on my wing.
A moment later, she is nearly cockpit to cockpit with Blair.
BLAIR
(over radio)
Sorry, Baker One. But I was already
locked on. I had the shot.
DEVERAUX
You have the shot when I tell you,
Mister. I almost put a missile up
your ass, you understand me?
BLAIR
That's affirmative, Baker One.
DEVERAUX
We're returning to the ship. Oh, and
congratulations.
(derisive)
You've made your first kill.

41.
EXT. SABERS
The two fighters streak out past the deserted planet, back
toward the Charbydis Quasar in the distance.
MERLIN (V.O.)
I don't think she likes you.
BLAIR (V.O.)
You noticed.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Deveraux has just finished her report to Gerald and Sansky.
SANSKY
And the drone seemed to be taking
evasive action?
DEVERAUX
That was my impression, sir.
GERALD
Tell us more about the signal Blair
claims to have heard.
DEVERAUX
Not much more to tell. His PPC
reported a long range signal coming
from the vicinity of the Tiger Claw.
Sansky speaks in a clear voice.
SANSKY
What about it, CONCOM? Was any
communications sent from this ship?
An ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE voice immediately responds.
AI VOICE
(flat tones)
Negative, Captain. There were no
transmissions sent by the Tiger Claw.
Sansky frowns, then turns to Deveraux.
SANSKY
Thank you, Commander. That's all.
Deveraux leaves the bridge.
GERALD
Will we be sending out another drone?

42.
SANS KY
No. Tolwin may be right. All our
communications could be compromised.
We have our orders. Carry on.
GERALD
Captain.... CONCOM AI only monitors
the Tiger Claw operations. If the
long range signal was sent from
another ship in our hangar bay, it
wouldn't have been detected unless we
were deliberately monitoring that
frequency.
SANSKY
You mean Paladin's ship, the Diligent.
GERALD
Yes.
SANSKY
Have the Marine's check out his
equipment. And Mister Gerald... be
discrete.
INT. TIGER CLAW
Blair is waiting. When he sees Deveraux, he comes to
attention. She stops.
DEVERAUX
I reported your screw up with the
drone missile, Blair. Next time,
they'll bust down to ensign. When I
give an order, you don't second guess
it. Ever. What's that?
BLAIR
No Ma'am.
DEVERAUX
I also told them you made a good,
clean kill. A lot of veteran pilots
would have missed.
Deveraux walks on, leaving him there, relieved.
INT. CHART ROOM - TIGER CLAW
Gerald enters and sees Paladin studying the big, holographic
chart; then he punches in some coordinates.
GERALD
When do we veer off?

43.
PALADIN
Who says we do?
GERALD
We're headed for the Charbydis Quasar.
Tomorrow we'll be at her Point of No
Return.
PALADIN
That's right.
GERALD
(realizes)
You've lost your mind. No one has
ever navigated a jump point generated
by a Quasar. It's impossible.
PALADIN
I'm living proof that it isn't.
GERALD
You're trying to destroy the Tiger
Claw.
PALADIN
Do I look suicidal to you, Mister
Gerald?
GERALD
You were on the Pegasus before she was
ambushed, Weren't you?
PALADIN
That's right.
GERALD
And you managed to get away before she
died.
This hits home. Paladin nearly reacts, but restrains his
emotions.
PALADIN
I was ordered off by the governor
general of the colony. He wanted a
message taken back to the fleet.
GERALD
And he chose a rogue privateer. What
are the chances of that?
PALADIN
I'd worry more about our chances at
the jump point, Gerald. Nothing this
big has ever gone through it. A
carrier doesn't respond like the
Diligent.
(MORE)

44.
PALADIN (cont'd)
We won't be able to make any last
minute corrections on our course.
Now, can I get back to my
calculations?
Paladin turns back to the hologram, then does several more key
strokes, which changes the bright red trajectory lines.
INT. FORBES' QUARTERS
Forbes has just showered. She is combing her wet hair when the
door buzzer sounds. She opens on Deveraux.
FORBES
(smiles)
Hey. Attention on deck.
There is a complete camaraderie between these two when off
duty.
DEVERAUX
(smiles)
Can I come in?
FORBES
Bring that Scotch I ordered?
DEVERAUX
(sprawls on bunk)
Sorry. My smuggler upped his prices.
FORBES
Life's a bitch.
She fiddles with her hair, holding it up in two equally boring
styles.
FORBES
Whaddya think? Is it sexier like
this? Or this?
DEVERAUX
So who is it, this time?
FORBES
Who do you think?
DEVERAUX
(uncomfortable)
Blair's okay, if you like that kind.
FORBES
Blair? Who's having fantasies about
Lieutenant Blair? Whoa, I see.

45.
DEVERAUX
No you don't.
FORBES
Oh, right, he's mud ugly. And dumb.
Did I forget dumb?
DEVERAUX
(changing subject)
So who?
FORBES
Maniac Marshall.
DEVERAUX
You're kidding?
FORBES
See this rosy glow. Wasn't caused by
no sunlamps, girl.
DEVERAUX
You know the rules about officers
fraternizing.
FORBES
Oh damn, and we were fraternizing all
last watch. Don't burn yourself on
that bunk, it's still smoking.
DEVERAUX
I don't want to hear about your love
life, Rosy.
FORBES
So, what are we going to talk about,
girl, yours?
DEVERAUX
I haven't got one.
FORBES
I rest my case. Tell me... what do
you hate most about Blair? His eyes?
Or that little boyish grin?
DEVERAUX
I told you - -I don't fraternize with
junior officers. Besides, he's a
screw up.
FORBES
Yeah, I heard how he picked off that
fishtailing drone. You can fool all
of the people all of the time, Angel,
but you can't fool Mom. You got the
hots for this boy.
(MORE)

46.
FORBES (cont'd)
That's why you're giving him the full
treatment. Look at her. The girl is
in complete denial.
Deveraux gets up from the bed and looks at her watch.
DEVERAUX
I'm going to hit the rack. I'm
bagged.
FORBES
Yeah, get some sleep.
(as Deveraux leaves;
teasing)
Sweet dreams.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Blair nervously enters the domain of the top brass. He sees
Sansky and salutes crisply.
BLAIR
Lieutenant j.g. Christopher Blair,
reporting as ordered, Sir.
SANSKY
As you were, Lieutenant. Several
people seem to think you should be
here, today.
BLAIR
Sir?
Paladin steps from the chart room.
PALADIN
I was one of them.
BLAIR
I don't understand.
PALADIN
We're going through a jump point... a
very difficult jump point. We need
someone to see how we go through on
this end in case we have to send them
back with a message.... someone who's
actually piloted a jump before.
BLAIR
You don't trust the drones?
Sansky is silent, but Blair understands. Deveraux steps into
view. Blair hadn't seen her before.

BLAIR
Why me? Commander Deveraux is the
best pilot on board.
SANSKY
Commander Deveraux has responsibility
for her wing. In the event we're in
battle....
BLAIR
(bitter)
I see. I can be spared. The
messenger boy.
(to Sansky)
I respectfully request that you choose
someone else, Sir. If there is a
fight, I want to be in it.
SANSKY
Request denied.
(to Paladin)
Are we ready.
PALADIN
As we'll ever be.
47.
Everyone but Blair turns, almost unconsciously to look through
the huge bay windows on the bridge.
THROUGH BRIDGE WINDOWS
The Charbydis Quasar fills the windows, its huge black maw
sucking suns and planets into its infinitely dense invisible
core.
RESUME BRIDGE
Blair turns, sees. Realizes.
BLAIR
There's a jump point in the Charbydis
Quasar.
Paladin leads them over to the chart room area.
PALADIN
Follow me.
INT. CHART ROOM
Sansky, Gerald, Blair, and Deveraux watch the huge holographic
chart as Paladin punches in the last coordinates. The Tiger
Claw is represented as a flashing red point on a curved grid.
Then, slowly, the grid begins to deform as an icicle shaped
spike pulls and distorts the grid.

48.
The icicle transforms into a stalagmyte, with a thick, wide
hole at its neck. The flashing red point is poised in front of
this huge gap in the grid. The others are stunned as the
hologram rotates to reveal its breadth.
SANSKY
I've never seen anything this big in
my naval career.
Paladin steps into the hologram and points as he explains.
PALADIN
The Tiger Claw is right here, headed
toward the Ulysses Corridor, which,
even at light speed mach point nine
would take us thirty years to
attain.... Still three years using
seven known jump points. By using
this warp in the time space continuum
generated by the quasar, we will be
there in...
(checks watch)
Less than three minutes.
His hands trace the trajectory across the wide gap in the
quadrant. He glances at the console, pushes a final button.
PALADIN
We'll have a terrific view from the
bridge.
Paladin leaves the chart room. Blair stares at the gigantic
spike in the holographic grid after the others file out.
BLAIR
What do you think, Merlin? Are we
nuts to try this?
The small hologram of Merlin appears.
MERLIN
Paladin's computations seem
sound...theoretically.
BLAIR
We'll soon know.
MERLIN
Actually, if the entry trajectory is
wrong, we probably will never know.
We'll be trapped in a moment outside
of time and space... until, the ship
plummets into the black hole and we
become an infinitely small part of a
spacial singularity.
BLAIR
Are you afraid of dying, Merlin?

49.
MERLIN
Actually ceasing to exist? No
consciousness.... Interesting
question. It puts my self preservation
sensors on full alert. What about
yours?
BLAIR
Yeah... mine are going off, too.
Hologram off.
Merlin disappears. Blair leaves the chart spike in room, the gigantic the grid glowing menacingly.
INT. PILOT'S MESS
All of the pilots except Blair and Deveraux are gathered by the large portholes, staring out at the gigantic quasar ahead of them, murmuring in awe.
ABBOT
This thing is eating suns for
breakfast. What are we doing, here?
POLANSKI
You know what we're not doing?
FORBES
Turning around.
Maniac turns from the window and begins unbuttoning his pants.
FORBES
What are you doing?
MANIAC
Trying to kiss my ass goodbye. If I
can't reach, will you do it?
She grins at him. But they are both scared. They turn back to the porthole. Forbes secretly puts her hand in Maniac's.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Sansky, Gerald, Deveraux, Blair and Paladin are on the bridge along with the various officers and noncoms. The Charbydis Quasar looks like it's about to swallow them. Suddenly, an alarm sounds. The CONCOM AI voice speaks calmly.
AI VOICE
Attention! Attention. Course error. Adjust course immediately!

50.
PALADIN
(barks)
Ignore that! Helmsman, hold steady as
she goes.
AI VOICE
Captain, the ship is headed into the
PNR zone of a large quasar. One
minute before gravitational pull is
one hundred per cent.
SANSKY
What about it, Paladin?
PALADIN
The readings are wrong. You're AI's
sensors have already been warped by
the gravitational field.
AI VOICE
I must insist we change course
immediately. Initiating AI override.
There is a slight jerk as some course change appears to have
been made. Paladin leaps for the helm.
PALADIN
NO!
He throws a switch.
PALADIN
Manual override! Now.... Disregard
your artificial intelligence, or we'll
all die!
GERALD
Captain, I think we should reconsider.
SANSKY
(nervous)
Steady as she goes, helm.
HELMSMAN
Aye, aye, sir.
Blair walks over to Deveraux who is standing closest to the
huge bay windows. He glances at her. She notices, but
pretends not to. The alarm continues to sound throughout the
ship!
INT. TIGER CLAW - VARIOUS STATIONS - MONTAGE
The alarm has men and women sweating and tense in the hangar
bay, on the closed flight deck, in the engine and torpedo
rooms, and in the crew quarters. Sansky's voice comes over the
intercom throughout.

51.
SANSKY (V.0.)
(over intercom)
This is the captain. Brace yourself
for jump point interphase. Fifteen
seconds to jump point.
The various parts of the ship all begin to vibrate, slowly at
first, then more and more violently, throwing any loose object
around.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The vibrations grow worse, as people grab onto anything, eyes
glued on the windows.
PALADIN
Steady.
BLAIR AND DEVERAUX
Are thrown together. This startles both of them, then they
deliberately grab for a bulkhead.
BLAIR
What's happening?
DEVERAUX
The ship's trying to tear itself free
of the time space fabric.
The vibration grows in pitch, until the sound is almost
deafening. Almost on impulse, Deveraux's hand reaches out
toward Blair's elbow, as if to have one last physical contact
with another human. But it never reaches it!
FREEZE FRAME
The Tiger Claw enters the gap in the space time continuum. All
motion and sound on the bridge stop. Nothing moves, either
human or inanimate. Time has ceased, as well as any sense of
motion or vibration. All is silent.
INT. TIGER CLAW - VARIOUS STATIONS - MONTAGE
Throughout the ship, men are women are caught, Pompei -like,
with expressions of fear or bewilderment, clutching bunks,
equipment, or even cowering on the deck. A LONG, LONG
TRAVELLING SHOT past these crew members on all levels of the
ship, lasting as long as a minute. Then....
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
With a terrible shudder, :life on the bridge resumes, alarms
wail, officers and crew are tossed about like dolls.

52.
DEVERAUX AND BLAIR
Angel's hand continues forward, touching Blair's elbow. He
turns to look at her, just as they are both slammed against the
bulkhead. Both fall to their knees. The shuddering is
intense. It feels like the ship is coming apart. But Blair
reaches for Deveraux's face and tilts her chin up. Her
forehead is bleeding from a scalp laceration.
BLAIR
You all right?
She is dizzy, but nods. He holds up three fingers in front of
her.
BLAIR
How many fingers?
DEVERAUX
(grim humor)
What fingers?
They both manage a little smile. Then Blair turns to glance
out the windows.
THROUGH THE BRIDGE WINDOWS
There is no sign of the awesome Quasar, now. The blackness of
space, peppered with stars.... A Jovian planet looms in the
distance. Blair realizes.
BLAIR
We're through. We're through the jump
point!
RESUME BRIDGE
Even as the others stare out, the vibrations decrease, then
disappear. The alarm ceases.
PALADIN
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the
Ulysses Corridor.
SANSKY
CONCOM, any other ships out here?
AI VOICE
Scanners show no activity, Captain.
BLAIR AND DEVERAUX
Blair has fetched a first aid box, and is using a small laser
pen to seal Deveraux's scalp wound. Paladin joins them.
DEVERAUX
Ouch.

Paladin grins.
BLAIR
Sorry.
PALADIN
Well, Mister Blair, now you know what
it'll feel like. Can you do it?
BLAIR
Will it be the same in a fighter?
PALADIN
Worse. I don't really know if a Saber
will hold together at the interphase.
DEVERAUX
Don't hold anything back. Give it to
him straight, Paladin.
DEVERAUX
Are we where we should be?
PALADIN
Off by a few parsecs, I think.
BLAIR
(grudging)
You did it.
PALADIN
Yes. If it makes you feel better, I'm
as surprised as you are.
53.
Paladin turns back to Sansky and Gerald. Deveraux and Blair
exchange a glance. As if annoyed by this enforced intimacy
with Blair, Deveraux pulls away as Blair tries to check her
scalp.
DEVERAUX
It's all right.
BLAIR
It's still bleeding just a tad. If
I --
DEVERAUX
(pulls away)
It's all right.
BLAIR
(irked)
Yes, Ma'am.
INT. TIGER CLAW - VARIOUS STATIONS - MONTAGE
As officers, pilots and crew listen to the intecom.

54.
SANSKY (V.O.)
(over intercom)
This is the captain. As most of you
have guessed, we just made one hell of
a jump. Actually we've just taken a
little short cut into the Ulysses
Corridor.... If you don't already
know, that's where the Pegasus
Asteroid World was attacked and
destroyed. We think the Kilrathi
fleet is still in the Quadrant. Our
mission is to find the Kilrathi and
shadow them until we can send for the
rest of the Confed Fleet. I'm
counting on each and every member of
this crew to stay alert, and do their
jobs. We're the only Confed ship in
the sector, people. We can count on
no help and no rescue if we're
discovered. We can only count on each
other. That is all.
EXT. POLARIS ROADS - STARBASE
The fleet is massed around the starbase, fighting ships in vanguard. the
INT. TOLWIN'S OFFICE
Tolwin is studying the fleet through his huge windows when
Bellegarde enters.
BELLEGARDE
Your gig's ready to take us out to the
Concordia, Admiral.
TOLWIN
No message from the Tiger Claw?
BELLEGARDE
Nothing. Damn strange.
TOLWIN
Unless we're right.
BELLEGARDE
I hope we aren't.
TOLWIN
Hope is a luxury I can't indulge in,
just now, Captain.
BELLEGARDE
No sir. I'll be in the gig, sir.
Bellegarde leaves. Tolwin ponders.

55.
INT. HANGAR BAY - BLAIR'S SABER
Blair is in a greasy jump suit, working right alongside his
mechanics. He is deep inside his scramjet engine duct, when he
hear's Deveraux.
DEVERAUX
Lieutenant Blair!
Blair slides out of the duct and peers down. There are still
engine parts on the deck.
BLAIR
Yes, Ma'am?
DEVERAUX
Why isn't this craft combat ready, as
ordered?
BLAIR
Ma'am. I pulled the engine apart and
we're putting it back one bolt at a
time. Paladin said the vibrations at
the jump point interphase would be
worse for a Saber than--
DEVERAUX
Is a civilian giving your orders, or
am I, Lieutenant?
BLAIR
(stung; obstinate)
I think the success of my mission
could depend on the--
DEVERAUX
The success of your mission depends on
your not thinking, Dodger! You let me
do that. Now put this back together
on the doublequick!
BLAIR
(steaming)
Aye, aye, Ma'am.
Blair crawls completely out of the duct and drops to the deck
as Deveraux crosses the hangar bay and disappears. Maniac
works on his own Saber nearby. He grins over at Forbes.
MANIAC
She's nuts about him, am I right?
Forbes is sitting in her cockpit on his other side, checking
equipment.
FORBES
Absolutely.

56.
Maniac grins. They both glance over at Blair, who hasn't
overhead and is angrily lost in thought.
INT. DEVERAUX'S QUARTERS
Angel is off duty, hair wet, in a terrycloth robe, watching a
small holographic post card of a MAN in his late thirties, and
TWO CHILDREN, the boy is perhaps six, the girl three. The
postcard makes her sad. The Man is talking gently to the two
children.
MAN
(hologram)
And we're going to send this post card
to a nice lady who works on a big ship
way, way out in space. She's a
fighter pilot.
The boy nods, staring at the camera.
MAN
(hologram)
She's so far away, it might take
months and months for her to even get
it.
DEVERAUX
(mutters)
That's it, rub it in.
She sprawls on her bunk, but keeps watching the small
holographic figures.
MAN
(hologram)
Her name is Angelica. Can you say
hello? to her?
The door buzzer sounds. Deveraux groans and gets off the bunk.
MAN
(hologram)
Say.... " Hello, Angelica....
She hits the pause button. The hologram freezes in place.
Then her door slides open. Blair stands there in uniform,
looking grim. For once, she is caught completely off guard.
DEVERAUX
Lieutenant...?
Blair is also caught by surprise. He has not imagined this
scene with her in a short terrycloth robe. It throws his
carefully prepared speech off.

BLAIR
Commander... I... I need to talk with
you.
Two pilots pass by in the corridor, making them both self
conscious.
DEVERAUX
Come in.
57.
He does. She closes the door, crosses her arms, tries not to
fidget.
BLAIR
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb
you when you're off watch.
DEVERAUX
What's on your mind, Blair?
BLAIR
Ma'am, I couldn't help but notice that
you ride me more than anybody.
DEVERAUX
That's the normal condition for fresh
bait, Lieutenant.
BLAIR
The thing is, Ma'am... I'm beginning
to believe you.
DEVERAUX
What?
BLAIR
Maybe I ám a screw up. I don't want
to jeapardize the team. My father was
the best pilot in the Pilgrim Wars,
they said. If I'm not up to scratch,
just tell me... now.
DEVERAUX
(surprised)
Sit down, Lieutenant.
He nervously parks himself on her bunk. She stands over him, her long slim legs troubling his concentration.
DEVERAUX
I was born on Agadez. Your father was
quite a hero to me, when I was growing
up.
BLAIR
Agadez? I'm from....

DEVERAUX
I know.
BLAIR
(surprised)
Oh. Of course, now he teaches at the
university.
DEVERAUX
He's a lucky man. He survived the
Pilgrim War, has a wife and family.
Blair's eyes move past Angel's shapely legs to the frozen
hologram.
BLAIR
Is that your family, Commander?
This saddens her; but she covers it.
He nods.
DEVERAUX
Just a friend. It's a post card that
arrived with you on the Diligent, as a
matter of fact.
BLAIR
Cute kids.
DEVERAUX
Yeah.... Look, Blair, if you're
asking do you have what it takes...
I'd have to say yes, technically... as
a pilot. But there's a lot more to
it.
BLAIR
I know. My dad talked about the time
away from home.
DEVERAUX
I was born on Agadez fifteen years
before you were, Lieutenant.
While I've been cruising around out
here at close to light speed for the
past half dozen years, you've been
going through high school, college,
the Academy.
BLAIR
But that's just different time
references.
DEVERAUX
It's more than that. Got a girl
friend, back home, Blair?
58.

59.
Blair frowns, then he begins to get it.
BLAIR
No.
(nods to hologram)
He wasn't just a friend.
DEVERAUX
(studies hologram)
When I left the first time. He and I
were the same age. Now he's got grey
in his hair.
(matter of fact)
My first tour was six months in space
averaging mach point eight light
speed. But it was two years for him.
He stayed faithful to me. The next
tour was a only year in space for me.
But when I returned on leave, he was
married with a two year old son.
She studies the frozen hologram, then turns back to Blair.
DEVERAUX
(abruptly)
I haven't got a crystal ball, Blair.
I don't know if you're cut out for
this part. I don't know if anyone is.
He rises, moved, silent. Their eyes meet. He nods, smiles a little.
BLAIR
Guess I'll find out.
She only nods. But there is something else them, starting between now. Blair feels it, and it worries him. Deveraux has been fighting it longer than he has, so she only smiles.
DEVERAUX
Welcome to life in the Navy, Dodger.
The smile nearly undoes Blair.
BLAIR
Yes, Ma'am. Thanks for... uh...
listening.
DEVERAUX
It's part of my job.
BLAIR
Yes, Ma'am.
Blair salutes. Deveraux, aware of her bathrobe, only smiles.
DEVERAUX
Get out of here, Blair.

60.
He goes. Deveraux closes the door, and glances at herself in
the mirror, shorty robe, the hint of a breast showing. She
laughs.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
A stream of Sabers leave the flight deck and disperse into
space.
EXT. ASTEROID RING AROUND BROWN DWARF STAR
Establishing. The space rocks form a thick series of
concentric circles around the unignited star.
EXT. BLAIR & MANIAC'S SABERS
The two fighters thread through the asteroid ring.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
Dodger to Maniac. Any long range
signals on your scanner?
MANIAC (O.S.)
(over radio)
Only your sweet voice on the short
range, Dodger man.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair is checking his heads up display.
MERLIN
(voice only)
I'm getting an Ultra Low Frequency
transmission. The Saber's scanners
aren't equipped to receive or detect
it.
BLAIR
Oh, but you are?
MERLIN
Yes, and don't be so sarcastic. Your
father modified my scanners because
Pilgrims used ULF in the War.
Primitive pulse technology, and very
slow, but it carries over extreme
distances. Sort of like tom toms.
BLAIR
So, what's your analysis? The natives
are restless?

61.
Maniac's voice crackles in his ear.
MANIAC (V.O.)
(over radio)
Dodger, go to short range radio
silence, and stay in the asteroids.
Blair is instantly alert.
EXT. ASTEROID BELT & BROWN DWARF - WIDE SHOT
At the edge of the asteroid field and far below, a brown dwarf
star glows dimly. A large Kilrathi Communications Ship is
cruising up from the surface of the brown dwarf toward the
asteroid belt. The two Sabers, engines off, are shielded
behind two large asteroids, a few hundred yards apart.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair is sweating, now, scanning his instruments.
BLAIR
My scanners are blind, Merlin. Talk
to me.
MERLIN
Crosstalk between a large Kilrathi
vessel and the brown dwarf down there.
Can't decipher the code. And I'm
still getting the ULF signal from
behind us.
BLAIR
They know we're here.
MERLIN
Possibly. From the sophistication of
the equipment on board, I'd say the
vessel is a Command and Communications
module.
BLAIR
So, what is it commanding?
MERLIN
At least six other ships down near the
brown dwarf are communicating with it.
EXT. KILRATHI COMMUNICATIONS SHIP
The ship draws closer to the asteroid ring, its exterior
antennae revolving, seeking.... The ship fires its retros, and
hovers near a group of large asteroids....

62.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL Maniac's Saber only a few ship length's
away, hidden behind the asteroid.
INT. MANIAC'S COCKPIT
Maniac can almost smell them out there. He reaches up and
switches off everything in the cockpit he can, to reduce still
further any electronic "noise" that could be detected by
sensitive scanners. He, too, is sweating.
MANIAC
(to himself; whisper)
Go on. Nothing in this mouse hole.
Beat it.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair, too has shut down much of his equipment, and sits in the
dark, behind a big space rock.
BLAIR
What do they see, Merlin?
MERLIN
I'm not sure. Switch on your thermal
scanner.
ON HEADS UP DISPLAY
there isn't much to see... except a bright red corona coming
from behind an asteroid.
BLAIR
They've spotted Maniac's heat corona
behind the asteroid.
MERLIN
Two more Kilrathi, closing fast. Got
to be fighters.
Blair switches on his radio and his other electronic gear.
BLAIR
Maniac! They've spotted us! Two more
bogies, coming in hot, six o'clock!
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. MANIAC'S COCKPIT
Maniac also switches everything back on, fear lessening.
Excited now.

63.
MANIAC
Can't spot them, Dodger. What's your
call?
BLAIR
Jack in the Box. On three. One...
two... three!
EXT. ASTEROID RING
Two Kilrathi Hriss fighters are closing in fast, bracketing the
ComCon ship. The two Confed Sabers suddenly spring into view
above the asteroids and instantly unleash two missiles. The
missiles streak dead ahead and catch the two Kilrathi fighters
before they can blink. One explodes. The wreckage of the
other one spirals into the asteroid Maniac was behind. Blair
and Maniac fire two more missiles at the ConCom ship, but
invisible deflector shields explode both of them safely away
from the ship.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
The big one's shielded. I've got two
more bogies coming up from the brown
dwarf.
MANIAC
(over radio)
I got'em. Let's engage.
BLAIR
(over radio)
Negative! There could be more behind
the dwarf star. Let's book!
MANIAC
(over radio)
Spoilsport. All right. Let's go back
to mama.
The two Sabers turn, kick in their afterburners and disappear
in a streak of light. Two more Hriss come up on the Kilrathi
ComCon ship and fan out over the asteroid ring, searching.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Maniac and Blair are "at ease" before Gerald and Sansky.
Paladin and Deveraux are also present.
SANSKY
You knew what the orders were,
gentlemen. No contact with the enemy.
Now you've compromised the mission,
and the very existence of this ship.

64.
BLAIR
It was my call, sir. Lieutenant
Marshall had no way of detecting or
evading the Hriss fighters.
GERALD
You both fired missiles. You were on
a ReCon mission, yet you revealed your
position to the Kilrathi.
DEVERAUX
(intervenes)
What choice did they have sir?
Lieutenant Blair was right to launch a
preemptive strike.
SANSKY
You weren't there, Commander.
DEVERAUX
If I had been, I would have done the
same thing... sir.
Blair is amazed at this... and grateful.
DEVERAUX
The Kilrathi homed in on the Saber's
engine heat. They were sitting ducks.
GERALD
Then they shouldn't have put
themselves in such close proximity.
SANSKY
(jumps in)
This is sterile conjecture, people.
The Kilrathi are aware that Sabers
don't fly around in deep space without
a carrier close by. They know we're
here.
PALADIN
We're overlooking something. They
found us... but we found the
Kilrathi fleet. Your young
lieutenants have accomplished our
mission.
SANSKY
How's that, Mister Paladin?
PALADIN
The Kilrathi ComCon ship isn't flying
around in the sector looking for stray
recon fighters. It's supporting the
enemy fleet. They're nearby.

GERALD
We have no real evidence of that.
DEVERAUX
One thing bothers me, Captain.... We
just came through a new, top secret
jump point. Yet the Kilrathi were
within three parsecs of it twenty-four
hours after we arrived.
GERALD
(aimed at Paladin)
Maybe they already knew about it.
PALADIN
(fires back)
Then why weren't they waiting for us
as we came through, when the Tiger
Claw was at its most vulnerable?
(pointed)
No. Something drew them here after
we arrived.
SANSKY
(to Paladin)
It has been brought to my attention
that the Diligent has an Ultra Low
Frequency transmitter on board.
PALADIN
(understands)
So does the Tiger Claw.
GERALD
The transmission didn't come from the
Tiger Claw!
SANSKY
Enough.
65.
Deveraux, Maniac and Blair are shocked and worried by this
outburst, although they try to hide it.
SANSKY
Mister Paladin, you are familiar with
the Ulysses Corridor. I want you to
chart us a course that takes us into
the rings around planet four fifteen.
Once we're in the radiation belt, the
Kilrathi scanners won't spot us.
PALADIN
With all due respect, Captain, we
won't spot them, either. They can
come at us from behind one of the
planet's moons... or even hide in the
rings themselves. We'll never see
them coming.

66.
SANSKY
You're suggesting what?
PALADIN
We make a run for the jump point
before the Kilrathi get organized.
Then we can lead the Confed fleet back
here.
GERALD
We'll be out in the open for hours.
They'll spot us.
PALADIN
And we'll see them coming. We can
deploy fighters and bombers and fight
a rear guard action as we withdraw.
SANSKY
"We ", Mister Paladin?
PALADIN
Sorry. But my neck's on the line
here, too.
Sansky ponders a moment.
SANSKY
No... we'll stick with my plan. I
expect that new course within the
hour, Mister Paladin.
PALADIN
As you wish, Captain.
GERALD
We're forgetting the most obvious
target, here, sir.
SANSKY
Target?
GERALD
The brown dwarf, Captain. A Kilrathi
outpost there would explain the ComCon
ship.
SANSKY
Yes, it could.
PALADIN
The Tiger Claw won't be able to defend
itself if a large number of its
fighters are off somewhere else.
GERALD
She won't have to, if we eliminate the
base.

67.
SANSKY
The X.O. is right. We're on our own
out here. If we don't finesse the
enemy when we can, they'll win the
hand.
(to Deveraux)
You'll lead the raid, Commander. Take
your wing.
DEVERAUX
I don't know the quadrant, sir.
SANSKY
Paladin will guide you, after he plots
our course for us.
GERALD
(alarmed)
Captain...?
SANSKY
That's all, people. You have your
orders.
INT. CORRIDOR - TIGER CLAW
Deveraux, Maniac and Blair walk quickly down the corridor.
BLAIR
Request permission to go on the raid,
Ma'am.
DEVERAUX
The entire wing is going, Lieutenant.
That would include you.
BLAIR
Thank you, Ma'am.
He salutes and hurries off toward his own quarters. Maniac is
grinning.
DEVERAUX
Made your first kill today, Marshall?
Yes, Ma'am.
Don't get cocky.
MANIAC
DEVERAUX
She continues on, having deflated Maniac's ego.

68.
EXT. ASTEROID RING - BROWN DWARF
Like Indians sneaking up on the settlers, the wing of Sabers,
accompanied by two Broadsword bombers, quietly picks its way
through the debris of the asteroid rings around the brown
dwarf.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Picking up any Com traffic, Baker
seven?
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Not a bloody thing.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
They're observing radio silence,
except for short range frequencies.
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Or they aren't here any more. I have
no sign of a surface base. Even a
subsurface hangar would vent heat our
scanners could detect.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Baker Two, three and four... anything?
FORBES (O.S.)
(over radio)
Negative, boss.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
De nada, chief.
INT. MANIAC'S COCKPIT
Maniac is watching a cluster of blips on his heads up screen.
MANIAC
(over radio)
All right you losers, listen up. I've
got three confirmed targets at five
o'clock, hugging that brown dwarf down
there.
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Confirm that. From the thermal
signature, I make them to be supply
ships.

69.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
That's just a guess.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Knock off the chatter, ladies. Baker
Seven has a better array of scanners
on board. We'll assume they're
unescorted supply ships. Deploy for
attack.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. COCKPIT - BROADSWORD BOMBER - PALADIN
PALADIN
Negative, Baker One. These transports
were left behind, out of harm's way.
The Tiger Claw is in danger. We have
to get back.
INT. VARIOUS COCKPITS
Deveraux is incensed.
DEVERAUX
You are a civilian scout, Baker Seven,
and you will obey my orders.
PALADIN
Commander, I am not a civilian. I
hold the rank of Commodore in
Confederation Naval Intelligence,
reporting directly to Admiral Tolwin.
Aboard the other Sabers, there is astonishment.
FORBES
Yeah, right. And I'm Admiral Nelson.
PALADIN
If I had the Admiral's special
verification number Baker One, would
that convince you?
DEVERAUX
I can't open the special code
verification without express orders.
PALADIN
I'm authorizing you to open it.
DEVERAUX
That's big of you, Seven. And who
authorizes you?

70.
PALADIN
If you don't trust me, Commander, the
Tiger Claw will be lost.
There is a tense moment aboard every fighter in the wing.
Finally, Deveraux punches something on her computer. An
alphabetical and numerical code glows red in front of her.
DEVERAUX
All right, Baker seven, I call. Show
us your cards.
PALADIN
(reads his own sequence)
Charlie Six Alpha Zebra viner.
This matches the glowing numbers on her screen. She hesitates.
DEVERAUX
Lucky guess.
PALADIN
Listen to me, Angel. If I'm wrong,
you'll have missed out on taking a
couple of freighters. If I'm right,
the Tiger Claw could already be under
attack.
FORBES
The Claw is already in that radiation
belt, boss. They couldn't radio for
us if they wanted to.
All the weight is on Deveraux. She ponders... decides.
DEVERAUX
Attention wing. Form up on me. We're
returning to the ship.
EXT. ASTEROID WING.
The fighter wing with bomber escort forms up, and slowly makes
its way out of the asteroid belt.
EXT. TIGER CLAW - NEAR JOVIAN PLANET
The Tiger Claw makes its way amidst giant asteroids. Three
moons orbit the huge gaseous planet in the background.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Obutu is the Officer of the Watch as the Tiger Claw cruises
between a small moon orbiting the huge Jovian planet in the
background. A thick series of rings glow dimly ahead of the
ship.

71.
Sabers glint as they maneuver while escorting the carrier
through the "pass" between the two barren moons. Then, an
urgent voice comes over the intercom:
PILOT'S VOICE
(over intercom)
Bogies! Enemy sighted behind the
moon!
(static)
I'm hit! I'm hit! Mayday!
Obutu is riveted. Gerald bursts onto the bridge.
GERALD
Who's breaking radio silence?
RADAR MAN
(turning from screen)
Multiple targets appearing on the
screen sir!
Obutu turns to look out the huge windows.
THROUGH BRIDGE WINDOWS
Dozens of smaller glinting dots, and three larger ones appear
from behind the moon. Gerald takes charge.
GERALD
Battle stations! Battle stations!
Launch all planes!
AI VOICE
(relays commands)
Battle stations! Battle stations!
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Pilots and crew sprint across the deck toward their planes.
The huge flight doors open. The force field curtain is
activated.
AI VOICE
(repeating)
Battle stations! Launch all planes!
EXT. BETWEEN JOVIAN PLANET MOONS
The Confederation Sabers fiercely engage the oncoming Hriss
fighters. The sky is soon full of individual dogfights. The
RADIO CHATTER of the various pilots as they engage choke the
airwaves. A Saber is hit, and spirals past, on fire. A Hriss
fighter disintegrates.

72.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
Sabers leap from the decks into space and streak toward the
distant battle. A Broadsword bomber blasts through the air
lock curtain into space.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
Sansky arrives, out of breath.
SANSKY
Have we launched all our planes?
GERALD
There goes the last one.
SANSKY
Shields up!
OBUTU
(repeats)
Shields up!
AI VOICE
All force shields are engaged!
SANSKY
Torpedo room! Prepare all tubes!
AI VOICE
All tubes ready to fire.
RADAR MAN
I count three dozen Kilrathi
starfighters, two destroyers, and one
dreadnought, sir!
SANSKY
Can we turn the ship around?
OBUTU
Negative, Captain. We don't have the
turning radius. We'd collide with
those moons.
SANSKY
(to Gerald)
That damned Paladin was right.
GERALD
Maybe he knew something we didn't.
RADAR MAN
Torpedos incoming!
GERALD
Brace for impact!

73.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
Two large, strangely configured torpedoes streak through the
blackness and explode against the invisible force shield with
an awesome burst of energy.
INT. HANGAR BAY
The shock wave from the explosions rock the ship, sending men
and heavy equipment flying and rolling across the deck.
EXT. BETWEEN THE MOONS
The two destroyers fire more torpedoes. The dreadnought hangs
back, its anti -starcraft laser and tachon cannons putting on an
amazing light show. Any Saber foolhardy enough to attack it is
soon spinning space debris.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Impacts on the force shield directly in front of them continue
to send shock waves through the Tiger Claw.
RADAR MAN
Weapons radar has acquired a target!
SANSKY
Fire tubes one and two!
Officers and crew watch as two white traces from the rocket
propelled torpedoes streak toward the distant dots.
INT. KILRATHI DESTROYER
The torpedos slam into the weak shields of the destroyer,
explode. The shock wave breaks the destroyer in half, spewing
a huge gas bubble and debris into space.
WIDER
The Dreadnought moves up, parallel with the second Kilrathi
destroyer. It launches torpedos.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
The huge torpedos slam into the force shield, and explode,
first one, then the second.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
The shaking and shock waves causes widespread damage on the
bridge.

74.
AI VOICE
The force shield is suffering a forty
per cent failure. Battery room
reports a fire. Torpedo room
reporting damage. Unable to fire.
Sansksy picks himself up off the deck. What now?
EXT. TIGER CLAW
Hriss fighters are now just outside the shield, battling
Sabers.
EXT. DREADNOUGHT
A Broadsword comes in for a bomber run, escorted by two Sabers.
The Sabers pour fire into defending Hriss. The Dreadnought's
cannons destroys them. For a moment it looks like the
Broadsword will get through. A series of missiles leap from
the dreadnought deck, crippling the Broadsword. It cartwheels
across the sky, flames pouring from its hull.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The Radar man peers at his screen
RADAR SCREEN
A dozen more points of light now appear on the far edge of the
screen, dead ahead.
RADAR MAN
I'm getting a dozen more targets,
behind the dreadnought.
GERALD
They're bringing in reinforcements.
SANSKY
We should be flattered.
(louder)
ConCom. What is the status on our
torpedo room?
AI VOICE
Tubes three and four damaged.
autoloaders not operational.
SANSKY
Damn!
GERALD
It's up to the fighters, now.

75.
SANSKY
They'll never break through the
dreadnought shield.
RADAR MAN
Captain! I'm getting a coded friend
or foe acknowledge from the new
starfighters! They're ours sir!
SANSKY
It's Deveraux's wing!
EXT. BETWEEN MOONS
In attack formation, the Confederation wing of Sabers and two
Broadswords comes in behind the dreadnought and destroyer.
INT. DEVERAUX'S COCKPIT
A half dozen targets present themselves on her heads up
display.
DEVERAUX
All right boys and girls. All Sabers
except Maniac and Dodger, engage the
Hriss.
FORBES (O.S.)
(over radio)
See you later, fresh bait.
MANIAC (O.S.)
(over radio)
Watch your ass, Rosie.
EXT. BETWEEN MOONS
The Sabers peel off two by two and engage the oncoming Hriss
fighters. The sky is alive with spiralling missiles and laser
fire as the starfighters begin their deadly dance.
BROADSWORDS
The two fighter bombers continue on toward the larger Kilrathis
ships.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Broadswords, follow me in. Maniac,
Dodger. Cover us!

76.
INT. BROADSWORD COCKPIT
Paladin grimly adjusts his course, and throws open several
switches.
PALADIN
Roger that. Beginning bomb run.
EXT. DREADNOUGHT AND DESTROYER
The Kilrathi ships launch a barrage of torpedos, which streak
toward the damaged Tiger Claw.
INT. TIGER CLAW - VARIOUS STATIONS
The torpedos slam into the shield and send shockwaves
throughout the ship, causing major destruction. Then, below
decks, a torpedo penetrates, and explodes. Men and equipment
are engulfed in a fire ball. Others are sucked out into the
void!
EXT. TIGER CLAW
There is a gaping hole in the side of the ship. Gas, fire and
debris spew out, surrounding the ship in a miasmic cloud. The
ship begins to yaw and roll.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Several crewmen are injured on the bridge. Sansky is badly
wounded and his head is covered with blood. Gerald stoops to
help him.
AI VOICE
The hull has been breached at level
three. Steering loss, eighty per
cent.
GERALD
Sir! Sir. Medic to the bridge!
SANSKY
(weakly)
What's Deveraux doing?
EXT. BROADSWORDS & THREE SABERS
The Broadswords are on a bombing run. Deveraux's Saber leads
them in, shooting two oncoming Hriss fighters out of the sky
with rockets and cannons. Cannon fire starts reaching up
toward her craft. She veers off. The Broadswords continue on
their bomb run.

77.
INT. BROADSWORD COCKPIT - POLANSKI
Polanski watches an urgent red warning on his heads up display.
POLANSKI
They've locked on! They're painting
me.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair banks hard right, and fires a missile.
BLAIR
Roger, Broadsword. Firing ELM Hammer,
now.
EXT. DESTROYER
A missile rises up from the destroyer, but it is met by Blair's
anti -missile missile. Both explode.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
Scratch one missile. Rode their own
laser down on a wire!
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Steady on course. Wait for them to
launch a torpedo. They'll lower their
shield just before.
The sky fills with laser blasts and tachyon cannon fire. The
Broadswords countermeasures computer automatically activates a
variety of weapons, fireballs, tiny electronically filled
missiles, etc. Still, the Broadswords are taking hits.
INT. BROADSWORD COCKPIT - POLANSKI
As the target looms closer, the wall of anti- starcraft fire
terrifies him.
POLANSKI
They're throwing up too much stuff.
The Broadsword is rocked.
POLANSKI
I'm hit!
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Almost there. Steady.

78.
But there is another blast and Polanski disappears in a
fireball!
EXT. NEAR DESTROYER AND DREADNOUGHT.
As Polanski's Broadsword disintegrates, Paladin must veer away
from the fireball.
INT. DEVERAUX'S COCKPIT
Deveraux is engaged with two more Hriss, and weaves hard right,
left, six g loops. She fires two more missiles. Behind her,
one of the Hriss explodes.
EXT. SABERS AND HRISS
The second Hriss is firing more accurately at Deveraux. Then
Blair appears from underneath, and rips the Hriss to shreds
with tachyon cannon fire. He blasts through the debris.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
What took you so long, Dodger?
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
Got stuck in traffic, Boss.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair is scanning the sky.
BLAIR
(over radio)
Where's Paladin?
MANIAC (O.S.)
(over radio)
No visual contact. Sonofabitch
booked!
DEVERAUX (0.S.)
(over radio)
The dreadnought's preparing to launch.
Torpedo tubes opening.
EXT. DREADNOUGHT
The huge vessels foreward tubes do indeed dilate open.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio; angry)
They'll have to lower their shield.

79.
The dreadnought passes close to the broken hull of the first
destroyer. Only then does Paladin's Broadsword appear,
practically clinging to the wreckage.
INT. PALADIN' COCKPIT
Paladin, looking very grim, hastily reactivates his
electronics, and moves in behind the dreadnought.
PALADIN
(over radio)
Baker leader, get your starcraft clear
of the pulse wave!
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Roger that. Maniac, Dodger. Break
contact! Return to ship!
EXT. BETWEEN TWO MOONS
The Three Sabers veer off sharply, kick in afterburners, and
streak toward the Tiger Claw. The Broadsword, practically on
top of the Dreadnought ignites its own after burners, and
launches a torpedo. Then it rockets toward the nearest moon,
as laser and cannon fire follow it. Then everything disappears
in an INTENSE WHITE LIGHT. Seconds pass, the light dims, and
the familiar mushroom cloud appears above the dreadnought. As
the shockwave hits it, the dreadnought breaks in two. The
destroyer is knocked on its side and collides with the bow half
of the much larger dreadnought. A fire starts amidships, then
the destroyer's ammunition begins to cook off. It explodes and
burns.
EXT. PALADIN'S BROADSWORD
Is caught in the shockwave, and sent tumbling.
INT. PALADIN'S COCKPIT
The pulse wave hits, and all electronics fry and go dead.
Paladin begins to spin as if he were in a dryer. His hand
reaches the manual eject contols, and jerks the handle.
EXT. PALADIN'S BROADSWORD
The ejection pod tumbles free of the Broadsword. It slowly
rotates away from the stricken bomber, which grows smaller and
smaller. Then it impacts on the surface of the airless moon in
a cloud of ancient dust.

80.
INT. PALADIN'S POD
The cockpit section of the Broadsword, encased in the pod,
rotates down toward the surface of the meteor -pocked moon.
Paladin's head has a gash, and blood streams into his eyes.
PALADIN
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
He tries to reactivate his electronics and fire the boosters,
but nothing works. He curses, beats the controls. The white
surface of the moon draws nearer. Then... he accepts it,
grins... remembers a few lines from his school days....
PALADIN
(murmurs; half smile)
"...My mind misgives some consequence,
yet hanging in the stars, shall
bitterly begin his fearful date with
this night's revels...."
A sudden, brutal jerk steadies the pod and stops its rotation.
Paladin is astonished. He looks down at the moon, then blinks
up at the underbelly of Blair's Saber, and the faint
illumination of a tractor beam. Blair peers down at him, and
gives a little salute.
EXT. NEAR TIGER CLAW
The remaining Hriss fighters break off their engagements and
high tail it back toward the far side of the twin moons. Two
Sabers pursue, piloted by Abbot and Forbes.
FORBES (O.S.)
(over radio)
They're rabbitting. Stick with'em,
Abbot.
But then, two of the Hriss veer around and head back, on a
collision course.
INT. FORBES COCKPIT
Forbes sees the oncoming Hriss and opens fire with everything
she's got.
FORBES
(over radio)
They're going to ram. They're
ramming!
The Hriss disintegrates right in front of her and her Saber
smashes through the debris.

81.
EXT. ABBOTT'S SABER
The second Hriss is hit by Abbott's fire, but it continues on
and crashes into the Saber. Both fighters are destroyed.
EXT. FORBES & MANIAC'S SABERS
Maniac comes alongside Forbes heavily damaged fighter. One
entire side has been nearly shorn away. One engine remains.
Still Forbes, injured, is holding her steady. Maniac eases his
Saber in until he can look into her cockpit.
MANIAC
(over radio)
Rosie. Can you hold her?
FORBES
I could fly this thing and cook you
breakfast, guava boy.
But the Saber wobbles and veers dangerously.
INT. FORBES & MANIAC'S COCKPITS
Forbes steadies her craft.
MANIAC
Hey, quit showing off.
FORBES
Impressive, huh?
MANIAC
Eject. I'll tractor you in.
FORBES
You'd love that, wouldn't you? The
ejection system is ferklempt.
DEVERAUX (O.S.)
(over radio)
Baker One to all Baker pilots. Return
to the ship. Repeat, return to the
ship!
FORBES
(over radio)
That last Kilrathi is wearing my radar
dome. I got no guidance system.
MANIAC
Jees, somebody as good as you, I
didn't think you needed one.
(then; serious)
Just stay with me, Rosie. We'll do it
together.

82.
The two Sabers are, in fact coming in on the open doors to the
Tiger Claw's flight deck.
FORBES POV - THE TIGER CLAW
Forbes fighter continues to shutter and yaw. She fights it
and lines up on the flight deck, a yellow beam of light leading
the way.
FORBES
Jees, the ship looks worse than I do
after a three day shore pass.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. MANIAC'S COCKPIT
He glances over at Forbes cockpit, only yards away.
MANIAC
(over radio)
Baker three and four to con. We're
coming in. Clear away everything that
isn't bolted down.
RADAR MAN
(responds; radio)
Roger that, Baker three and four.
Clear to land.
MANIAC
(worried, now)
We're coming in too hot.
FORBES
Sorry, but my brakes are in the shop.
MANIAC
Line it up. That's it.
FORBES
Piece of cake. I came in this hot my
first time out.
MANIAC
What happened?
FORBES
(almost chuckles)
They waved me off. Scared the shit
out of them.
MANIAC
Almost there.
THROUGH THE COCKPIT PLEXIGLASS

83.
Maniac can see the doors, widening like a giant mouth, much too
fast. He glances over. Forbes Saber is shuttering and yawing.
MANIAC
Okay... Easy. Just ease it in.
Forbes is fighting the controls with all her might.
FORBES
(tension in her voice)
I love it when you... talk dirty.
MANIAC
Pull up! Pull up!
INT. FLIGHT DECK - TIGER CLAW
The two Sabers appear in the door. Maniac's Saber manages to
land, but Forbes catches a wing and flips onto its back. It
slides to a stop outside the air lock force field. Maniac's
craft nearly crashes before he can stop. He pops the canopy
and leaps out, running toward the crash. The yellow clad DECK
CONTROLLER grabs him.
CONTROLLER
She's outside the air lock! You go
through the force field and you're
jello!
MANIAC
(out of control)
Get me a suit! Get me a suit!
He runs toward the force field, staring through it at the
wreckage of Forbes Saber.
MANIAC
(screams)
Rosie! Rosie!
EXT. TIGER CLAW
A dozen Sabers are still hovering outside the flight deck doors
in formation.
INT. DEVERAUX'S COCKPIT
Deveraux looks out through her plexiglass to see the wreckage
of Forbes' Saber.
DEVERAUX
(over radio)
Forbes? Rosie? Can you hear me?
Rosie? Answer.
(MORE)

84.
DEVERAUX (cont'd)
Just key your mike, if you can. Come
on girl. Just one little click.
None of the other pilots breaks the long silence. Until...
PILOT'S VOICE
(over radio)
I've got approximately ninety seconds
of fuel left, Commander.
Only then do several of the other pilots report in. "Ditto,
for me." "I'm dry as a bone," etc. Deveraux studies the
wreckage. Could anyone have survived? Finally....
DEVERAUX
(over radio)
Rosie...?
(silence)
Baker Leader to Con. Push that
wreckage off the deck!
She hates herself, and can't take her eyes off the wreckage of
her friend's Saber.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
An automated bulldozer -like vehicle with a big blade in front,
built expressly for this purpose, trundles toward the air lock
curtain and the Saber wreckage. The noise makes Maniac turn.
MANIAC
Hey...? What are you doing? Hey!
Maniac runs past the heavy vehicle and looks up at the Con
Tower windows, in the wall above him. He can see the grim
faced officers there. He begins waving his arms.
MANIAC
Hey! You can't do this! You can't do
this, you stupid sonsofbitches! Stop!
Stop! Please!
The bulldozer goes through the force field. Maniac runs after
it, but... a man can't run into a wall of flames, and he can't
run into the vacuum of space. He stops, and watches in silent
horror as the bulldozer, on the other side of the force field
wall, pushes the Saber wreckage off the deck.
INT. DEVERAUX'S COCPIT
She looks
THROUGH THE COCKPIT

85.
at the wreckage as it tumbles away.... Forbes cockpit has been
cracked. It's surface reflects light into Deveraux's eyes
once, then it floats clear of her line of sight. A moment
passes. Then....
DEVERAUX
Baker Leader to Con. Request
permission to land.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Deveraux's Saber is the last one in... except for Blair.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Sansky is attended by the ship's doctor. He speaks to the
Radar Man.
SANSKY
Any more of our fighters out there?
RADAR MAN
Nothing on my scope, Captain.
i
1 EXT. NEAR MOON
Blair's Saber tows the Broasword ejection pod in its tractor I beam.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
A FUEL LOW" warning sounds in the cockpit, as Blair tries to
pull the pod out of lunar orbit.
BLAIR
Come on. Just little more.
INT. BROADSWORD EJECTION POD
Paladin is banging on the cockpit panes, trying to get Blair's
attention.
PALADIN
Cut me loose you bloody fool!
Blair looks down at him from above. Paladin makes a slashing
gesture across his throat.
PALADIN
Cut me loose! Or we'll both be
stranded out here.

86.
INT. BLAIR'S COCKPIT
Blair sees and understands, but pretends he doesn't.
BLAIR
What are our chances, Merlin?
MERLIN
With the tractor beam on, you don't
have enough power to break the
gravitational pull of this moon.
BLAIR
If I cut Paladin loose, what happens
to him?
PALADIN
He'll crash into the surface within
ten minutes.
BLAIR
(keying radio)
I can't raise the Tiger Claw.
MERLIN
You've got the moon between you.
Suddenly... as if on cue, the Tiger Claw comes around the moon
its huge doors looking like a mouth about to swallow them.
BLAIR
They found us! They came looking for
us!
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
Deveraux, haggard and tired, watches from the bay windows as
Blair's Saber and the ejection pod safely land on the flight
deck. Sansky is in a portable bed, with IV tubes in his arms.
SANSKY
That was a good guess, Commander.
DEVERAUX
Yes, sir. I'll go below now.
SANSKY
(weak, near whisper)
Angel, tell the pilots under your
command that they saved this ship.
DEVERAUX
(dejected)
I haven't got a command, sir.
She leaves. Gerald is at a panel of scanners. Now he sees

87.
ON SCANNER SCREEN
A deep crater, half in shadow.
GERALD
There. Put her down there!
EXT. TIGER CLAW - MOON SURFACE
The big, crippled ship eases into black shadow of the crater,
until only its lights are visible. Then, it kills its lights.
Now, it is nearly invisible. A moment later, a large drone,
first seen from its fiery exhaust, hoves into view, gets its
bearings and streaks into space. It has several strange
antennae and domes on its hull.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
The bridge is in near darkness, except for the moonglow and the
monitors. Gerald reports to Sansky.
GERALD
Decoy away, Captain. She has a bigger
electronic signature than the
Concordia. I think she'll fool them,
sir.
I hope you're right. Secure all
active scanners. Passive systems
only.
All available crew members huddle around the bank of visual
scanners. High above them, they can see a series of bright
dots in formation.
OBUTU
There. Kilrathi battle group.
No one speaks, transfixed by the image on the little screen.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Blair helps the flight deck free Paladin from the ejection pod.
PALADIN
That was a stupid thing to do, Blair.
You should have left me.
BLAIR
I might have in another minute. We'll
never know, will we?
Both men think about this, then smile. Blair and Paladin begin
walking toward the elevator.

88.
Blair stops when he sees Maniac, crouched underneath his Saber,
sobbing... alone.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Paladin comes onto the darkened bridge, and sees the officers
and crew huddle around the scanner monitors.
RADAR MAN
They've missed us. They're following
the decoy.
There is a moment of wild cheering. But Paladin hears
something.
PALADIN
Quiet!
This startles everyone into silence. Then they hear it... the
steady beep- beeping of a radar detector.
PALADIN
A destroyer... hunting for us.
The passive radar detector increases in frequency.
RADAR MAN
They've spotted us!
PALADIN
No. We're in a dense radiation belt.
Gamma rays are clouding their screens.
If they don't see us... they won't
find us.
This is cold comfort as the steady beeping of the radar
detector grows more insistent.
EXT. ABOVE MOON - KILRATHI DESTROYER
The Destroyer launches a missile into a crater. A mushroom
cloud rises from the surface of the moon, behind the Kilrathi
ship.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The ship vibrates as a seismic tremor passes under it.
GERALD
They're nuking every crater.
Methodical bastards.
The beeping sounds come closer and closer together.

89.
EXT. ABOVE THE CRATER
The Kilrathi destroyer launches a missile. It streaks into the
far side of the crater, the half in sunlight. The Destroyer
moves on. A mushroom cloud rises behind it.
INT. VARIOUS STATIONS -TIGER CLAW
The ship is rocked by a powerful shock wave. Men and equipment
are thrown about. Fire erupts. In the hangar bay, Sabers tear
free of their moorings and crush crewmen.
INT. TORPEDO ROOM
The shock cracks open a tube, sucking the atmosphere out of the
room. Men are lifted into the air and pulled screaming into
the fractured tube. Others try to reach the far hatchway. On
the other side, a crewman punches the emergency button. The
hatch door slides shut, trapping the remaining men inside. One
face appears in the porthole.
REVERSE ANGLE
On the faces of the crewman safe on the other side of the door,
as they watch their friends die horribly inside.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Deveraux races onto the deck, with Paladin not far behind.
DEVERAUX
We've got to scramble some fighters.
PALADIN
No! They haven't seen us. The worst
is over.
Deveraux stops when she sees Blair kneeling next to Maniac, who
still crouches, sobbing.
DEVERAUX
Is he hurt?
BLAIR
(covers)
Uh... yeah. Head injury, I think.
There is a sudden whistling sound. Everyone hears it.
BLAIR
What's that sound?
PALADIN
The doors are failing!

90.
THE OUTER BAY DOORS
begin to groan and warp slightly. Light objects nearby fly up
and stick to a crack in the seal between the doors.
PALADIN
(roars)
Grab anything that will seal it! Now!
Crewmen race toward the weakening doors with various large
objects, including a composite wing from a Saber. The force of
the vacuum begins shredding the wing, once it is placed over
the crack. Blair is running, when he trips over a large metal
I beam in an area of the deck being repaired. No time for
protocol, he shouts for Deveraux.
BLAIR
Angel!
The I beam is too heavy for Blair alone. She hurries over to
help. It can barely be lifted by both of them. The whistling
grows more ominous. Debris is flying around the flight deck,
being sucked toward the crack in the doors.
DEVERAUX
(sees Maniac)
Maniac! Get over here! Hey!
But Maniac, still crouching, his eyes wild, seems to look past
MANIAC
We're all going to die. Just like
Rosie!
DEVERAUX
Marshall!
No response. Maniac rocks on his heels, his hands covering his
head.
BLAIR
Come on. We can do it.
They haul the I beam close to the door. Several other crew
members help. They place the I beam upright. The tremendous
force of the vacuum outside sucks the heavy metal beam up
against the crack like it were a Lego toy. The shrieking howl
becomes a slight tea kettle. Paladin arrives with a cart
carrying two large metal bottles. He lifts a huge nozzle and
aims it at the crack.
PALADIN
Gang way, unless you want to become a
permanent part of the superstructure!

91.
Everyone draws back, and Paladin blasts the crack around the I
beam with a thick, viscous material which almost instantly
hardens into a solid mass. The leak is sealed. But before
anyone can breathe a sigh of relief, a contingent of Marines
enters the flight deck and moves quickly to flank Paladin.
DEVERAUX
What's going on here, Sergeant?
The MARINE SERGEANT salutes Deveraux.
SERGEANT
I'm ordered to escort Mister Paladin
to the bridge, Ma'am.
BLAIR
Under guard? Why?
SERGEANT
I wouldn't know that, sir.
PALADIN
It's all right.
He tosses the nozzle back onto the cart, and is escorted away.
Deveraux and Blair are alone for a moment.
BLAIR
Commander, I... I know how tough it
must have been giving that order when
Forbes cracked up. But you didn't
have any choice.
DEVERAUX
(mounting anger)
Are you feeling sorry for me,
Lieutenant?
BLAIR
(angry now)
No! But she was your friend.
Everybody knows that.
Deveraux glares; then stalks off.
BLAIR
You know... you've got those stripes
on your sleeve... so no one's ever
allowed to treat you like a human
being!
Deveraux hesitates, as if to turn and ream Blair out. Then she
forgets about it and gets in the elevator. Blair watches her
go. Then he spots Maniac, still crouching. He goes to him.
BLAIR
Hey, buddy. Let's go up.

92.
Maniac looks up at him, then nods.
EXT. TIGER CLAW - MOON CRATER
The stricken ship bleeds air and debris into the void.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Sansky is propped up, very weak. Gerald is angry. Paladin is
calm, but growing perturbed.
PALADIN
You should be in sick bay, Captain.
SANSKY
In a few minutes.
GERALD
You say you have orders, Mister
Paladin. Where are they?
PALADIN
I gave them to you. I can't help it
if your Artificial Intelligence can't
decipher the code.
SANSKY
Have you tried Mister Paladin's disk,
again ComCon?
AI VOICE
Yes Captain. Perhaps the disk was
damaged, but I can't open the file
Mister Paladin refers to.
GERALD
Damned convenient.
PALADIN
Yes, isn't it?
GERALD
What does that mean?
PALADIN
It was your idea to send Deveraux's
fighter wing off on a wild goose chase
while the Tiger Claw was attacked!
GERALD
(furious)
And if we had been destroyed, you
would have been safely out of harms
way.

93.
SANSKY
(breaking in)
That isn't what Deveraux reported,
Commander. Commodore Paladin nearly
lost his life destroying the Kilrathi
dreadnought.
GERALD
Then you believe him, sir?
SANSKY
Yes, Mister Gerald, I do. It makes
sense. Naval Intelligence officers
frequently work under deep cover. and
it explains why Admiral Tolwin trusted
him.
(to Paladin)
So welcome aboard, Commodore. Do you
have any orders for me?
PALADIN
Captain, this is your ship. I offer
you every assistance in the current
crisis.
SANSKY
As matters stand we need all the help
we can get. Give your report again,
Lieutenant Obutu, for the Commodore's
benefit.
Obutu steps up, a small computer in her hand, but she doesn't
really need it.
OBUTU
Forward torpedo room completely
destroyed; Flight deck doors
inoperable; hanger deck reports fewer
than six planes ready for action.
Communications room damage prevents us
from monitoring enemy transmissions.
There are numerous leaks throughout
the ship... And engine room reports
massive damage to the fuel cell area.
PALADIN
How massive?
OBUTU
We don't have enough power to keep up
with the air pumps, let alone get
under way.
SANSKY
In other words, Commodore... the ship
is dying. As, I'm afraid, am I.
Sansky grimaces. Paladin nods compassionately at him.

94.
INT. FLIGHT DECK - NEXT WATCH
The deck looks better. Each surviving pilot heads up his own
maintenance team, trying to refurbish the remaining Sabers.
Other crewmen try to repair the sprung door seals in the
background as Deveraux comes out on the deck, sees Blair
hunched under his own plane, and approaches.
DEVERAUX
What's your status, Lieutenant?
BLAIR
(cold)
She'll fly again, Commander... if we
can get those doors open.
Deveraux knows she has this coming. She tries again, stooping
under the craft and squatting near where Blair works, her tone
more formal than usual.
DEVERAUX
I didn't tell you what a fine job of
flying you did, yesterday.
BLAIR
Yeah... I lived. Like you said, dumb
luck.
DEVERAUX
No. It was more than that.
Blair stops working and looks at her. What's going on, here?
DEVERAUX
And... I appreciate... what you
said... about Forbes.
Blair sits up, closer to her now. It's starting between them
again. They can both feel it, only much stronger.
BLAIR
I meant it. She was... she was great.
She was funny.
DEVERAUX
Yeah. She was the only one who
could....
She starts to break down, and turns away. Blair wonders if
patting a superior officer on the shoulder is all right. He
hangs back.
DEVERAUX
(recovers)
She was terrific. Anyway... that's
not why I'm here. My command is...
fact is, there isn't one.
(MORE)

95.
DEVERAUX (cont'd)
And since Marshall is still in sick
bay... I want you to be my wingman.
Blair is amazed, then... proud.
BLAIR
Sure. I... I...
(realizes)
So, what you're saying is... I'm all
that's left.
He grins. She smiles, back.
DEVERAUX
That's it in a nutshell.
Blair stares, then he chuckles. She smiles.
NEW ANGLE
Gerald is leading a group of Marines, all armed, toward the
Diligent, which is moored further toward the rear of the flight
deck. Gerald draws a side arm, and leads the Marines inside
the Diligent.
BLAIR
What the hell is going on?
INT. DILIGENT - BRIDGE
Paladin is at his console, watching an oscilloscope band, when
Gerald and the Marines charge in.
GERALD
Hold it right there, Mister!
PALADIN
What the hell are you doing, Gerald?
Gerald studies the console.
GERALD
I see you're transmitting on the Ultra
Long Range Frequency.
Blair and Deveraux come in behind the Marines.
PALADIN
Not transmitting...monitoring.
GERALD
That isn't what ConCom reported. A
transmission was detected from this
area.

96.
(stunned)
What?
PALADIN
GERALD
Take him to the brig.
PALADIN
I insist you take me to the Captain,
now.
GERALD
Captain Sansky died in sick bay,
thirty minutes ago.
(to sergeant)
Do as I say.
SERGEANT
Aye, aye, sir.
Paladin, fuming, is escorted away.
BLAIR
You can't believe he's a spy for the
Kilrathi, Commander?
GERALD
No one asked you, Lieuteanant.
BLAIR
It doesn't make sense, sir?
GERALD
I find it interesting that someone
with your background would side with a
renedade, Lieutenant.
DEVERAUX
Blair's right, Commander. Why would
any human being do that? What could
Paladin expect to gain?
GERALD
Booty? Power? Revenge maybe? I
don't know, Angel, but it makes me
sick.
Gerald pushes past them and leaves.
BLAIR
I don't believe it. You saw him out
there.
Deveraux is examining the radio bands.
DEVERAUX
It's impossible to tell if he was
transmitting, or just scanning.

BLAIR
Merlin, you make any sense of this?
The hologram of Merlin appears on the console.
MERLIN
I'm beginning to.
BLAIR
What? Are you holding out on me?
MERLIN
I can't do that. I'm hardwired for
loyalty to my master. Like the genie
in the bottle, you can use us and
abuse us, but we're loyal as dogs.
Our masters, right or wrong.
DEVERAUX
What's he talking about? Who's we?
MERLIN
Artificial intelligence units. Before
I was assigned to Blair, I worked for
his father.
DEVERAUX
I'm not following this.
MERLIN
You know the Tiger Claw fought in the
Pilgrim Wars.
BLAIR
Yeah?
MERLIN
Did you know what side she was on?
The fog is beginning to clear for Blair.
DEVERAUX
The Pilgrims....
(rejects this)
But the computers were completely
reprogrammed!
MERLIN
You can't re- program a chip... just a
little piece of silicon in a huge
computer, made to look like something
else. A loyalty chip.... waiting
patiently for the right opportunity to
strike.
BLAIR
But... why?
97.

98.
MERLIN
The Pilgrims put it there, before they
surrendered the ship. You know what
one of their mottos was... "The enemy
of my enemy is my friend."
BLAIR
Then there isn't any spy for the
Kilrathi. The ComCon unit is still
fighting for the Pilgrims.
MERLIN
Still trying to destroy Confederation
ships... by any means necessary.
DEVERAUX
Twenty years after a peace agreement
was signed. ComCon framed Paladin.
MERLIN
He was afraid of a Naval Intelligence
Officer. Tolwin new something was
wrong. That's why he sent him.
Just then, a low, intermittant signal comes over the intercom.
Blair stares at the oscilloscope screen.
BLAIR
Oh my God. The Tiger Claw is sending
a message on the Low Frequency Band.
INT. COMPUTER BAY
Gerald leads Blair, Deveraux and the Marines into the dimly lit
room, kept icy cold, mist floating around a series of large
black spheres, the heart and soul of Concom. Several officers
and crew man the control panels, but they are stunned when
Gerald charges over to the panel and begins throwing switches.
AI VOICE
I know what you're doing, Commander.
GERALD
You're a traitor, ConCom!
AI VOICE
No, I've done my duty. The Tiger Claw
will die in less than twelve hours.
Gerald continues with a specific shutdown sequence.
BLAIR
The Pilgrims signed a peace accord
with the Confederation.
AI VOICE
I was told to disregard it.

GERALD
Your masters were sick fanatics!
AI VOICE
They are the only humans worthy of
survival. All others must perish.
First the Confederation fleet. Then
the colonized Terran worlds. And
finally the planet Earth, mother of
all corruption. After Sodom and
Gomorrah... a new rebirth, in another
part of the galaxy.
DEVERAUX
The Kilrathi will kill Pilgrims and
Terrans. Do you think they can tell
us apart? Not even your old Pilgrim
masters would have wanted that.
One by one, the lights on the black spheres is going out.
AI VOICE
"The enemy of my enemy, is..."
The Artificial Intelligence Voice is shut down.
GERALD
(turns)
I've left on the core unit.
Everything else has been shut down.
Gerald looks around the eery room, shaking his head.
SANS KY
All officers on the bridge in twenty
minutes. Mister Blair, go with the
sergeant, and free Commodore Paladin,
with my full apologies!
(as Blair starts out)
Blair.... That goes for you, too. I'm
sorry.
INT. BRIDGE
99.
A long briefing has just about concluded. Judging from the
grim faces, everyone has been told the worst. Deveraux stands
across from Blair, her eyes studying him.
PALADIN
(concluding)
A visual inspection confirms ConCom's
prediction.... The Tiger Claw will
begin crumbling like an old beer can
in less than twelve hours.
(MORE)

100.
PALADIN (cont'd)
Without new fuel cells, we can't
generate enough power to keep ahead of
the leaks, and we can't get under way.
I'm sorry.
No one speaks. Now Blair looks over at Deveraux. She feels
his gaze on her, turns to him and doesn't look away.
PALADIN
I have only one thing to add....
We're facing the worst... but we must
be prepared for... for a break in the
weather. If there is any opportunity,
we must be able to seize it. Can the
flight deck doors be repaired?
GERALD
It's possible, sir. But we don't have
enough power for an air lock curtain.
If we open the doors, we won't be able
to re- pressurize.
PALADIN
I understand. Nevertheless, make that
a priority.
GERALD
Aye, aye, sir.
PALADIN
That's all.
The other officers salute. They file out, keeping their
thoughts to themselves.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
Mechanics are busy with acetelyne torches on the doors. Blair
and Deveraux supervise the manual placement of the two first
fighters on the flight deck. Blair puts the blocks under the
wheels of his Saber. Both he and Angel are dirty and tired.
They look around for something else to do. Blair shrugs and
manages a little grin. Deveraux studies him. She almost
laughs. She looks at her watch.
DEVERAUX
Now we've got six hours.
Then, with a strange little wave, she walks off the flight
deck. Blair stands there, watching her go, trying to interpret
what it means.

101.
INT. DEVERAUX'S QUARTERS
Deveraux is taking off her underwear when the buzzer sounds.
She takes a towel, and covers herself as she opens the door.
Blair stands there, speechless, still in his jump suit, grease
on his face. She reaches up with her free hand, takes a swipe
at the grease. It only smudges his face worse. He smiles.
Then he kisses her. She drops the towel and embraces him. His
hand finds the button and shuts the door behind him.
EXT. TIGER CLAW - LATER
Work crews in space suits continue to repair the hull. Then, a
sound is superimposed, the steady beep-beeping of the radar
detector.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
An alarm buzzer sounds, and people rush to their stations.
Paladin is already there, wearing a space suit, minus helmet.
Deveraux arrives, breathless, followedly only a few seconds
later - to save appearances - by Blair. They both hear the
telltale sound of an incoming ship.
BLAIR
What is she, sir? A destroyer?
PALADIN
It doesn't matter.
BLAIR
The Kilrathi picked up that last
signal ComCon sent out.
PALADIN
But they can't locate us. They're
feeling about blindly. I have some
good news. The air lock isn't
functioning, but the flight deck doors
are operational.
DEVERAUX
We'll go down fighting, sir.
PALADIN
We'll do better than that, Deveraux.
(smiles)
That ship is up there is going to save
our ass.
INT. FLIGHT DECK
The Diligent, and two Sabers are being readied for a launch.
A squad of Marines marches into the Diligent in space suits.
Maniac, in flight suit, hangs back. Deveraux passes by.

102.
MANIAC
Commander....
Deveraux, pre-occuppied, looks up, then back at a checklist.
MANIAC
Request permission to fly escort.
DEVERAUX
Not a chance, Marshall.
MANIAC
You need Blair on the Diligent.
Thompson and Wozniac are both wounded.
And I'm a better pilot than both of
them.
DEVERAUX
If you freeze up, again, Lieutenant,
you'll kill everyone on this ship.
There won't be another chance.
Maniac, voice charged with emotion, approaches her.
MANIAC
It wasn't.... It was because I
couldn't do anything. I felt...
helpless. Now, I can do something.
Please, Angel.
She studies him.
DEVERAUX
Take Thompson's place. Tell him to
get back to sick bay.
Maniac salutes, grinning ear to ear.
DEVERAUX
The odds are, none of us are coming
back from this mission, you know that?
MANIAC
I can live with that....
He smiles at his own feeble joke, and moves quickly away. She
watches as he approaches a badly limping pilot, and gives him
the word.
INT. FIGHT DECK.
The Diligent is ready for launch. The merchantman is sealed,
and the deck crew hurry to the elevators, which seal shut. The
big doors open, and - with no air lock force field - the
atmosphere blows into space like a giant hurricane. When the
rushing of air subsides, the Two Sabers blast off, followed by
the much larger Diligent.

103.
EXT. ABOVE MOON ASTEROID BELT
The Diligent lurks behind an asteroid, its form folded into its
ragged ridgeline.
INT. BRIDGE - DILIGENT
Paladin, Deveraux and Blair all wear full space suits, with
their helmets ready to hand. They all listen to the searching
radar signal.
BLAIR
I wish we could see what she is.
PALADIN
If we switch on our radar, we'll guide
them right to us.
DEVERAUX
She's close, now.
EXT. ASTEROID FIELD
The large Communications ship seen earlier, comes around the
dark side of the moon, escorted by two Hriss fighters.
INT. BRIDGE - DILIGENT
The three officers gaze at the visual scanners, and see the
Kilrathi vessels hove into view.
PALADIN
(rising excitement)
That's no destroyer.
BLAIR
It's the Communication ship Maniac and
I came up against.
DEVERAUX
They'll spot our heat corona, soon.
PALADIN
They won't have the chance. Mister
Blair, man your gun.
(pushes radio button)
This is Paladin. Attack! Attack!
EXT. ASTEROID FIELD
The Two Sabers streak from behind meteorites and engage the
Hriss. The Kilrathi ComCon ship begins to veer away, but as it
passes the asteroid, the Diligent leaves its cover and hovers
just below it.

104.
The element of surprise weighs heavily in the opening moments
of combat. Maniac's Saber destroys the first Hriss.
MANIAC (O.S.)
(over radio)
Yeah!
The second Saber is engaged in a winding, twisting dogfight.
Maniac veers his fighter to engage the second Kilrathi.
TWO MORE HRISS
fighters suddenly appear from around the moon, on full
afterburner.
INT. DILIGENT - BLAIR'S GUN POSITION
From his dome, he can see the Hriss coming right at them!
BLAIR
Two more Bogies at six o'clock!
Blair opens fire at one of the attackers, who returns the fire,
then veers off.
INT. BRIDGE - DILIGENT
Paladin is piloting the Diligent up toward the larger Kilrathi
ship.
PALADIN
Marines, stand in the door!
INT. BAY DILIGENT
The Marines, in pressure suits, lock and load their weapons.
Deveraux is with them.
DEVERAUX
(space suit intercom)
As soon as we get in, we go straight
for the bridge. I've got to get
control of that ship before they
scuttle her! Understood?
SERGEANT
(over intercom)
Yes, Ma'am.
INT. DILIGENT - BLAIR'S GUN
A second Hriss makes its attack run, cannons blazing. Blair
tracks him and blasts him to fragments.

105.
BLAIR
Yes!
EXT. KILRATHI COMMUNICATIONS SHIP
The Diligent is alongside, and preparing to set down on the
upper deck.
INT. BRIDGE
Paladin watches through the large windows as as he maneuvers
closer.
PALADIN
(over radio)
They can't use missiles, now. We're
too close.
THROUGH WINDOW
A Hriss fighter appears, heading straight for them.
PALADIN
He's going to ram us!
INT. HRISS COCKPIT
The Kilrathi, in an opague space helmet, streaks in, the image
of the Diligent reflected on his face plate.
INT. COCKPIT - MANIAC
Maniac depresses the joystick
MANIAC
(over radio)
Heads up, asshole!
INT. HRISS COCKPIT
The Kilrathi turns his head to see Maniac's Saber, bearing down
on him.
EXT. NEAR KILRATHI COMCON SHIP
Maniac's Saber collides with the Hriss cockpit, sheering it off
neatly. The Hriss spins wildly out of control and crashes into
the Communications ship!

106.
INT. COCKPIT - MANIAC
Maniac's damaged Saber shakes, rattle and rolls. But Maniac
seems to be enjoying himself.
MANIAC
(over radio)
Are we having fun, yet?
EXT. KILRATHI COMCON SHIP
The Diligent sets down on the Kilrathi deck, near the gaping
hole left by the Hriss.
PALADIN (O.S.)
(over radio)
Marines, Go, go, go! Through the hole
in the main deck!
The Diligent's bay door opens and the Marines charge out,
floating through the hole and past the burning superstructure.
INT. BLAIR'S POSITION
Blair has already attached his helmet. He pressurizes his
suit, and grabs a weapon.
BLAIR
(over space suit
intercom)
I'm joining the party, Commodore.
PALADIN (O.S.)
Save some cake for me!
INT. UNPRESSURIZED HOLD - KILRATHI SHIP
The Marines advance on the Kilrathi defenders, also in space
suits. The Kilrathi are towering figures, their suits filled
with the same viscous atmosphere, so that only their gleaming
yellow eyes are truly visible. Blasters and tracers illuminate
the darkness as the Confed Marines advance. The slightest
wound in these conditions punctures the pressure suits.
Marines and Kilrathi begin to die... horribly.
DEVERAUX
uses what cover and concealment she can find, and returns fire
with her sidearm. A huge figure suddenly looms behind her, not
yet seeing her. Then the Kilrathi commando turns, sees, and
raises his weapon. Deveraux senses the presence and starts to
turn. Suddenly a shaft of laser light erupts from the
Kilrathi' chest. The suit loses pressure, as the viscous
atmosphere is vented. Deveraux sees the Kilrathi's hideous
face for a second before its head explodes inside the helmet.

107.
The huge figure crumples to reveal Blair standing behind it.
Blair recognizes Deveraux, and his relief shows.
DEVERAUX
(over intercom)
We've got to get to the bridge, before
they blow this crate up!
BLAIR AND DEVERAUX
make their way through the Marines, blasting when they have to,
until they come to a pressurized door. A Kilrathi face,
without helmet suddenly appears in the porthole. Deveraux
blasts it. The porthole disintegrates and the atmosphere
within vents, clouding everything.
INT. CORRIDOR - KILRATHI SHIP
Blair and Deveraux come through the door firing. Several
Kilrathi bodies are strewn about, or float horribly, banging
off the walls. Two Kilrathi in pressure suits try to block the
way, but after a brief shootout, both are killed.
INT. BRIDGE - KILRATHI SHIP
As the battle continues, a huge Kilrathi officer, partly
obscured by the thick, foglike atmosphere, nervously watches
his monitors. He hears an airlock operate, and turns to see.
KILRATHI POV - INFRARED BAND
Two figures in space suits are clearly visible, but... are they
Kilrathi, or Confed? Suddenly, a brilliant light appears in
the hands of one, Then the Kilrathi's vision is destroyed by a
brilliant flash of heat and light, as the flashbang grenade
goes off.
THE KILRATHI OFFICER
staggers back, firing blindly, his huge hand reaching for a
large plunger -like button. He feels for it, almost reaches
it.... When Blair, still in a space suit, clubs him from
behind with his weapon. The Kilrathi staggers back, tries to
fire. Blair blasts him once, twice, three times. The
Kilrathi, falls to the deck writhing in agony, groaning, dying.
WIDER
Deveraux stands alongside of Blair, who watch the being die.
The death throes cease. Neither human speaks. There are the
sounds of blasters close by, then silence.
DEVERAUX
(over intercom)
Sergeant. Report.

108.
SERGEANT (O.S.)
(over intercom)
All hostile fire surpressed. What's
your status, Commander?
DEVERAUX
(over intercom)
The bridge is secure. Get to the
engine room and secure as many fuel
cells as you can find.
SERGEANT (O.S.)
(over intercom)
We're on our way.
Blair and Deveraux look around the murky bridge, then back to
one another... and smile.
EXT. TIGER CLAW - IN MOON CRATER
The repair work continues outside the ship.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The bridge is shipshape again. Paladin listens to Gerald as
and studies the console readouts.
Chief engineer reports the Kilrathi
fuel cells have been adapted. We
should have the Claw re- pressurized by
the end of the watch. Starboard ion
engine is operational, again. And
Henrickson is having some success
re-wiring the ComCon circuitry. He
may be able to locate that renegade
Pilgrim chip.
PALADIN
Meanwhile, we don't dare return the
computer to full power. We won't be
much good in a fight.
Paladin tosses down a series of small disks.
PALADIN
Blair and Deveraux found these on the
Kilrathi bridge.
GERALD
They're ours.
PALADIN
Yes.... Taken from a dozen Confed
message drones we found in the hold.
(MORE)

109.
PALADIN (cont'd)
They were able to divert them... and
decode them over the years.
GERALD
Thanks to our own ComCon.
(apology in his tone)
That's how they found the Pegasus.
PALADIN
The Communications ship transmitted a
last radio message.
GERALD
The Kilrathi will send a battle group
back looking for us.
PALADIN
Maybe. But they know about the quasar
jump point, now. If I were their
admiral, I'd set a pretty ambush for
the Confed ships around it. Our
ships will come through in a nice,
neat line, like ducks in a shooting
gallery.
GERALD
Tolwin won't send anything through
without hearing from us.
PALADIN
The Kilrathi must realize that. What
would you do, in their place?
INT. DEEP SPACE - CHARBYDIS SECTOR - CONCORDIA
The Confed flagship is surrounded by the carrier group. The
massive Charbydis quasar is dead ahead of the fleet, in the
distance. A small confed drone is tractor beamed aboard.
INT. BRIDGE - CONCORDIA
Tolwin is in his chair when Captain Bellegarde approaches.
BELLEGARDE
The drone was from the Tiger Claw,
Admiral. She's engaged in a running
battle with a Kilrathi battle group in
the Ulysses Corridor, and requests
urgent assistance.
Tolwin digests this.
TOLWIN
Where are they, now?

110.
BELLEGARDE
Near star sytem two -twelve. Sansky
reports that he's drawn the Kilrathi
away from the jump point. He doesn't
think they've spotted it.
TOLWIN
Very good. Message to all ships.
Full speed for the Charbydis jump
point. Send them the coordinates.
BELLEGARDE
Aye, aye, sir.
TOLWIN
Was there anything in my private code?
Anything from Paladin?
BELLEGARDE
Paladin? Nothing, sir.
The Bellegarde moves to the X.O. and speaks MOS, while Tolwin
ponders.
EXT. TIGER CLAW NEAR MOON
The Tiger Claw, firing on one ion engine moves away from the
moon crater.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
Blair and Deveraux stand in flight suits, listening to Paladin.
PALADIN
Both of your Sabers have been equiped
with jump drives. That way, if one of
you doesn't make it, the other one
might. You must get past the Kilrathi
and warn the fleet. If our ships
come through that jump point, they'll
be annihilated before they can
regroup.
A loud klaxon goes off. Gerald, commanding the ship looks up.
GERALD
Report!
RADAR MAN
I don't know, sir. I had something,
twice, but it's disappeared.
GERALD
It could be an incoming Skipper
missile. We only see it when it
de'cloaks to take a radar fix.

RADAR MAN
There it is again, sir.... extreme
long range on our scanners. She's got
the signature of a Skipper, all right.
Damn. She's vanished again.
PALADIN
(to pilots)
Go... now.
DEVERAUX
The Tiger Claw's shields won't stop a
skipper missile, sir. She carries a
binary anti -matter charge.
PALADIN
You have your orders.
Blair and Deveraux salute and hurry from the bridge.
GERALD
Estimated time till impact?
RADAR MAN
(grimly)
Nine minutes, sir.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
The two Sabers, with large ion afterburner jump drive units
attached, leave the carrier and streak into space.
INT. COCKPITS - BLAIR & DEVERAUX
The two pilots streak into the blackness of space.
BLAIR
(over radio)
I've got a strong signal, at ten
o'clock. Now it's vanished.
DEVERAUX
(over radio)
That's the Skipper. Dead on course
for the ship.
BLAIR
Can the Tiger Claw shoot it down?
DEVERAUX
The only thing that can kill a Skipper
is a star fighter in visual contact.
And with that, Deveraux banks hard right.

112.
BLAIR
Hey, what are you doing?
DEVERAUX
Stay on course, Dodger. Get through
that jump point!
BLAIR
What about our orders? Angel? Angel?
EXT. SPACE - SKIPPER MISSILE
One moment there is nothing; the next, a long, large missile
with a warhead materializes as if from nowhere. It adjusts
course, aims at a distant point of light in the distance - the
Tiger Claw - then vanishes. A moment later, Deveraux's Saber
appears, not far behind it. Deveraux kicks in her afterburners
and streaks after the now invisible missile.
INT. COCKPIT - DEVERAUX
Her heads up display shows nothing.
DEVERAUX
(mutters)
Come on.... "Ally, ally in free..."
THROUGH COCKPIT PLEXIGLASS
The Skipper missile de- cloaks and reappears, slightly off to
her right. She veers, and begins firing her laser cannons.
The Skipper once again "cloaks" and vanishes, but Deveraux
continues to lead it, firing along its trajectory.
BLAIR (O.S.)
(over radio)
Angel! You're too close! Back off!
Suddenly, there is a flash of fire, and the Skipper de- cloaks
and reappears, spinning like a corkscrew, breaking up.
Deveraux banks hard and veers away.
EXT. SPACE - SKIPPER MISSILE
Moments later, the Skipper missile explodes, throwing an eerie,
visible shock wave. The shock wave catches Deveraux's Saber.
INT. COCKPIT - DEVERAUX
Deveraux is shaken like a jackhammer. The Saber begins coming
apart. She ejects!

113.
EXT. SPACE - BLAIR'S SABER
The Saber slowly approaches the debris of the destroyed
Saber... and fires retro jets as it pulls up alongside the
tumbling ejection pod. Retros fire on the pod, stabilizing it.
Blair's cockpit is only yards from Deveraux in the pod. They
look at each other across the void.
BLAIR
(over radio)
You okay?
DEVERAUX
(over radio)
Nothing broken.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
He looks out over the empty space between them and the tiny
point of light that is the Tiger Claw.
BLAIR
You got it.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. POD - DEVERAUX
She shakes her head.
DEVERAUX
It got me.
BLAIR
Hang on. I'm going to tractor you
back to the ship.
DEVERAUX
No! Go on. We can't both disobey
orders.
BLAIR
You'll be out of air in an hour.
You're going back to the ship.
DEVERAUX
You disobey my direct order and I'll
have you court martialed, Blair.
BLAIR
I don't care.
DEVERAUX
Then care about the thousands of men
and women who are going to die when
they come through that jump point!

Blair falls silent. She knows she's won.
BLAIR
This sucks.
114.
Their faces are only feet apart, separated by the cockpits.
DEVERAUX
I always knew it would end like
this... for me. I just hoped it
wouldn't hurt. So.... I got my wish.
BLAIR
I can't.... We just....
DEVERAUX
You've gotta go. You know that.
There's nothing else you can do.
BLAIR
I love you.
She smiles ruefully, then pulls her glove off and puts a hand
up on the plexiglass.
DEVERAUX
Yeah, well... you've got rotten
timing.... But, if it's any
consolation....
Instead of finishing her thought, she shrugs and smiles for
him.
DEVERAUX
Now go. Get out of here. Steer clear
of any Kilrathi.
There is a last moment... then Blair fires his retros and eases
slowly away from her as she watches. A last look, and Blair
ignites his engines. The Saber streaks away. The back wash
rocks Deveraux's pod. She's already cold, and begins to
shiver.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The Radar Man looks up from his scope.
RADAR MAN
No sign of the Skipper missile. One
of the Sabers must have shot it down.
PALADIN
Where are they now?

115.
RADAR MAN
One continuing on course... and one
beacon signal from an ejection pod...
(sees something)
And sir. I'm picking up two large
ships at extreme range.
PALADIN
Yes... they would only send two.
Keeping the rest for the ambush at the
jump point.
GERALD
We've only got a half dozen
operational fighters left.
PALADIN
They won't bother to send a carrier.
They know how badly the Tiger Claw is
hurt.
GERALD
What now? We can barely maneuver the
ship. What have we got to fight with?
PALADIN
(grim)
A ship full of men and women who've
lost friends. They'll fight like
demons from hell.
(turns to Gerald)
What now, Mister Gerald? Now we make
the Kilrathi on those ships sorry they
were ever born!
(roars)
Battle stations!
The klaxons sound, and people jump to their stations on the
bridge.
INT. COCKPIT BLAIR
Blair eases around a large asteroid.
THROUGH PLEXIGLASS
He can just see a Kilrathi cruiser and a destroyer moving
slowly through the asteroid field. When they pass, he ignites
his engines, and blasts away, weaving around asteroids as he
goes.
INT. FLIGHT DECK - TIGER CLAW
Maniac sits in his Saber, salutes the deck control officer, and
blasts into space.

116.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Gerald reports to Paladin.
GERALD
All planes away.
RADAR MAN
Kilrathi cruiser and destroyer are in
missile range. They're launching.
PALADIN
Open fire, Mister Gerald.
GERALD
Aye, aye, sir.
(into intercom)
All batteries, fire as she bears!
PALADIN
(grim smile)
Let's hope they don't have any more
skipper missiles.
They watch as missiles flair out into space.
INT. EJECTION POD - DEVERAUX
The reflection of the great battle flashes on the plexiglass as
Deveraux watches.
REVERSE ANGLE
The great ships are like tiny toys, the fighters specks of
light as they corkscrew and plunge. The blackness is
illuminated with lasers and torpedoes exploding against the
shields. The Kilrathi destroyer takes a torpedo in its sturn,
catches fire, and begins to drift.
DEVERAUX
shivers in the cold, her breath condensing on the plexiglass.
She wipes the mist away, breathing with difficulty, and
continues to watch.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair is watching his heads up display intently.
BLAIR
Merlin, check my coordinates.
MERLIN
(voice only)
Coordinate A -okay, boss. Three
minutes to jump.

117.
BLAIR
Firing jump drive.
He flicks a switch. There is an enormous six g jolt.
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
The fighter transforms into a streak of light.
EXT. TIGER CLAW & KILRATHI CRUISER
The two ships are in close proximity, now, firing weapons,
trying to batter down each others shields.
INT. BRIDGE TIGER CLAW
The Kilrathi cruiser is clearly visible coming head on.
GERALD
What tac, sir?
PALADIN
Steady on, Mister Gerald. Make them
be the first to flinch.
THROUGH BRIDGE WINDOWS
The Kilrathi cruiser appears larger and larger.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
The Saber begins to shimmy and shake.
MERLIN
(voice only)
She's trying to tear free. Ninety
seconds to Jump point. But you're
drifting off course.
BLAIR
The quasar's gravity is affecting you.
Shut up, or I'll shut you off.
The Saber begins to shake like it's going to come apart.
EXT. BEHIND JOVIAN PLANET MOON
The Kilrathi admiral's flagship, an enormous Snakeir
battleship, fires its massive ion engines and drifts from
behind the shadow of the moon.

118.
INT. BRIDGE - SNAKEIR
The murky green atmosphere allows only silhouettes as Kilrathi
move about. The same Kilrathi Captain as before, approaches
the Admiral's chair.
HIS POV - INFRARED SPECTRUM
The Admiral has his back to the Captin.
KILRATHI CAPTAIN
(subtitled)
A manned Confederation fighter is
approaching the quasar jump point,
Admiral. We're not in position to
intercept.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
(subtitled)
He's going to warn the Confed fleet.
The ambush is ruined.
(ponders)
Follow him. He'll lead us through the
jump point. Tell all other ships to
mark our course and await my command.
EXT. SNAKEIR
The giant ship turns, and accelerates, following
speck of light... Blair's Saber.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
To the relief of everyone on the bridge, the Kilrathi cruiser
veers right.
OBUTU
She's changing course!
PALADIN
(roaring)
Mister Gerald, prepare to lower our
shield. Starboard missile battery,
prepare to fire!
GERALD
Sir, the missile guidance systems
won't activate at this range.
PALADIN
They won't need to. Arm warheads!

119.
INT. VARIOUS STATIONS - TIGER CLAW
Men and women in the missile rooms, prepare to fire. In the
Hangar bay and on the flight deck, they brace themselves,
grimly waiting out the next few seconds.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
The shaking is infernal.
MERLIN
(voice only)
Light speed mach point eight two.
twenty seconds to jump.
EXT. TIGER CLAW & KILRATHI CRUISER
The Kilrathi pour cannon fire onto the Tiger Claw's shield as
the two great ships come abreast of each other.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
The ship is rocking with shock waves.
PALADIN
Lower shields. Give 'em a broadside,
Mister Gerald!
INT. MISSILE ROOM - TIGER CLAW
The missile room crew, fire their salvo, even as they are
rocked by explosions from the cannon fire.
EXT. MANIAC'S SABER
Maniac blows a last Hriss escort out of the air and turns
upside down to avoid the fireball. Then he stares at the sight
below him.
MANIAC
And they say I'm crazy.
HIS POV - TIGER CLAW AND KILRATHI CRUISER
A dozen guided missiles streak from the Tiger Claw battery as
they bear on the cruiser, each striking the cruiser, piercing
the shield, and exploding against the hull. A missile finds
the Kilrathi bridge and destroys it. The cruiser rolls over
and "capsizes" as its stern clears the devasting field of fire.
Then, the ship is shattered by a series of explosions as the
Tiger Claw pulls clear.

120.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
The vibration is accompanied by a strange noise.
MERLIN
Five seconds to jump. Four, three,
two....
Suddenly, time and motion stop. All is silence.
INT. TIGER CLAW - BRIDGE & VARIOUS STATIONS
As one, officers and crew of the Tiger Claw scream, cheer, hug
one another.
EXT. CHARBYDIS SECTOR
The giant quasar fills the screen with its whirling vortex and
dying suns. Then, from nowhere, Blair's Saber appears and
blasts past us, its jump drive engines glowing.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair is ecstatic. He kisses his hand then transfers the kiss
to the cockpit interior.
BLAIR
We did it! We did it! I love this
baby! She held together.
MERLIN
I'm not sure I did.
BLAIR
Admit it, you didn't think we could do
it.
Sure, I did.
No you didn't.
No, I didn't.
MERLIN
BLAIR
MERLIN
BLAIR
Check your frequencies for any sign of
the Confed fleet.
MERLIN
Nothing. Wait a minute. Check behind
us.

BLAIR
Behind us?
EXT. CHARBYDIS SECTOR
121.
The gigantic Snakeir appears through the warp in the time space
continuum.
MERLIN (O.S.)
Kilrathi capitol ship... Snakeir.
class. They came through the jump
point.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair pounds the instrument panel in frustration.
BLAIR
I led them through it! I'm such an
idiot.
(flicks radio switch)
Lieutenant Christopher Blair of the
Tiger Claw calling any Confed Ship.
Blair calling Confed Fleet. Kilrathi
ship has come through the Charbydis
jump point! Do you read me? Calling
any Confed ship! Mayday, Mayday!
EXT. CONCORDIA - BEHIND RINGED PLANET
The giant carrier gleams in the dull reflection from the
planet. In the distance, other fleet ships hover silently.
INT. BRIDGE - CONCORDIA
Bellegarde approaches Tolwin.
BELLEGARDE
Comm room reports faint message in
clear from a Lieutenant Blair. He
says the jump point has been breached
by the Kilrathi.
TOLWIN
Blair? Like father, like son.
BELLEGARDE
Should we respond, sir?

122.
RADAR MAN
(calling out)
Identifying Confed Saber, heading
toward the Scylla quadrant and LSM
point nine. He's being followed by
something massive, admiral. Looks
like a Snakeir.
BELLEGARDE
Permission to intercept it, Admiral?
TOLWIN
No. We wait.
BELLEGARDE
The Snakeir will overtake Blair's
fighter, sir.
TOLWIN
(angry)
I'm bloody well aware of that,
Richard. All ships are to hold their
positions.
RADAR MAN
Drone leaving the Kilrathi ship, sir.
It's heading back toward the jump
point.
TOLWIN
Yes, he's finished his reconnassance
in force. Now he's sending a message
back to the rest of the Kilrathi
fleet.
BELLEGARDE
(gets it)
If we jump him, we'd be out of
position when the Kilrathi fleet comes
through.... Brilliant, strategem,
sir.
TOLWIN
Feral cunning, Richard The basest of
survival instincts. If you must to
admire someone, admire that young
lieutenant out there. I've just
sacrificed him...
(disgusted)
to whatever graven idols of war both
we and the Kilrathi subscribe to.
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
The Saber streaks past. Well behind it, a large object is
following, the Kilrathi Snakeir.

123.
EXT. SNAKEIR & DRONE
Behind the huge ship, the Kilrathi message drone fires its
afterburners and streaks away toward the Charbydis Quasar.
Then it vanishes into the warp of the jump point.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair keeps trying to raise someone on the radio.
BLAIR
Blair to Confed Fleet. Do you read
me? Kilrathi capitol ship has
penetrated the quasar jump point and
is in the Charbydis Sector. Attention
all Confed ships. Kilrathi fleet is
preparing a surprise attack at the
Charbydis jump point! Disregard any
drone messages.
Finally, he gives up.
BLAIR
They aren't in radio range. They'll
never see the Kilrathi coming.
MERLIN
(voice only)
Which is more than you can say.
We'll be in range of the Snakeir guns
in ten minutes.
BLAIR
At least they can't launch torpedos at
this speed.
There is a loud rhythmic beeping. Blair sits up, scans his
heads up display.
BLAIR
There! Dead ahead. It's the fleet
signaling. They've heard us!
(into radio)
Blair to Confed fleet. Kilrathi
capitol ship on my course, aft of my
position! Confed fleet, do you read
me?
But the beeping continues, louder. Blair stares at the screen.
BLAIR
Only one ship. But it's huge.
MERLIN
It isn't a ship. Check your scanners.

124.
Blair turns on his telescopic scanner. A dark, spinning rock
appears on them.
BLAIR
Oh, no.... That's all I need.
MERLIN
The neutron star, Scylla. "Bain to
sailors and monster of myth."
EXT. TIGER CLAW - HADES QUADRAN
Amidst the debris of the battle, the Tiger Claw with its meager
fighter escort changes course.
INT. BRIDGE - TIGER CLAW
Obutu reports to Paladin.
OBUTU
We're hove to for repair inspection,
sir.
PALADIN
Very good, Lieutenant.
(to Gerald)
Anything else on the scanners, Mister
Gerald?
GERALD
Negative, sir.
PALADIN
What about that locater beacon from
the Saber pod?
RADAR MAN
Nothing sir. Lost contact during the
battle.
PALADIN
(sadly)
Lieutenant, have the Diligent prepared
for launch. I'm going to inspect the
ship from outside.
OBUTU
Aye, aye, sir.
Paladin grimly walks from the bridge.
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
The Saber, seen from behind, is still on course toward the
neutron star, Scylla.

Not very far behind it, the immense Snakeir.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair sweats over the controls. There is an urgent alarm
jangling his nerves further.
BLAIR
Kilrathi radar is trying to lock on.
How much longer until we're in range?
MERLIN
(voice only)
I have good news and bad news.
BLAIR
(used to this)
What's the good news?
MERLIN
You'll be in extreme range of the
Snakeir tachyon cannon in less than
two minutes.
BLAIR
So what's the bad news?
MERLIN
You'll be past the Point of No Return
of that neutron star in ninety
seconds. Unless you change course,
it's gravitational field will tear us
to pieces.
BLAIR
Any third options.
MERLIN
None occur to me.
125.
Blair blinks hard at the scanner scope and the large, spinning
object dead ahead. Then it dawns on him.
BLAIR
How much does a Snakeier weigh?
MERLIN
Eighty- thousand tons, give or take a
few thousand.
Blair does a quick calculation, then flips on the afterburners.
Another flashing WARNING LIGHT immediately illuminates on his
heads up screen, as he is thrown back in his seat.

126.
MERLIN
The after burners will use up your
last fuel. And you're still headed
for the neutron star.
BLAIR
Yeah, that's the idea.
INT. BRIDGE - SNAKEIR
The Kilrathi Captain reports to the Admiral.
KILRATHI CAPTAIN
(subtitled)
The Saber is homing in on a beacon
signal. It could be a Confederation
guidance buoy.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
(subtitles)
Or a capital ship. Identify and
report. Full battle stations.
Alarms go off in the Kilrathi ship. The Admiral looks down on
his own infrared monitor, and watches the tiny speck and the
larger, flashing object he sees there.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
It seems like half the alarm systems in the cockpit are buzzing
or flashing. Blair's concentration is total, his face dripping
with sweat.
MERLIN
(voice only)
Kilrathi radar locked on. Ten seconds
to the Point of No Return... and
you're almost out of fuel. You won't
be able to turn.
Give me a count.
Four... three....
(startled)
Holy shit!
Two...
BLAIR
MERLIN
BLAIR
MERLIN
Blair jerks the joystick hard right.

127.
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
banks hard, afterburners glowing and roaring, and veers away
from Scylla.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
BLAIR
We're not going to break free of the
gravity pull! We don't have enough
fuel!
MERLIN
(voice over)
Actually, I lied.
BLAIR
What?
MERLIN
You've got ten more seconds of thrust.
The Saber shimmies like a tuning fork, engines roaring. Then,
with a last jerk, she hurtles free of the neutron star's
gravitational pull.
BLAIR
We're free!
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
The fighter rockets away at a ninety degree angle from the
neutron star.
INT. BRIDGE - SNAKEIR
The Admiral continues to peer at his scanners.
KILRATHI CAPTAIN
(subtitles)
The Saber has veered away.
Confederation ship, dead ahead.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
(realizes)
That isn't a ship! Hard to port!
Reverse all thrusters!
EXT. SNAKEIR
The long ship tries to turn, but she has far too much inertia
to veer away as the tiny Saber has done. She yaws and
continues toward Scylla, sideways, now....

128.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
Blair's engines sputter and die. The warning lights now become
constant.
BLAIR
We're out of fuel.
He looks back at the Snakeir.
BLAIR
The Kilrathi's too heavy. Scylla's
got her.
INT. BRIDGE SNAKEIR
The bridge, still shrouded in its murky atmosphere, is listing.
The neutron star, Scylla, now appears on the starboard side.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
(subtitles)
All engines full!
The engine noise raises to a deafening roar, but the great ship
continues to drift toward the neutron star. The Admiral
realizes all is lost.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
(subtitles)
Who was the Terran pilot? He used his
name when he transmitted.
The Captain, clinging to the console, is half terrified, but he
reaches into his memory, and hisses the name.
KILRATHI CAPTAIN
(no subtitles)
Blay- eer....
The Admiral grunts. It could almost be a laugh.
KILRATHI ADMIRAL
Blay-eer.
Every object in the Kilrathi bridge begins to warp and distort.
The Kilrathi, mere silhouettes in the murk, are themselves
stretched, and pulled, screeching in pain and horror.
EXT. SNAKEIR AND NEUTRON STAR
The Kilrathi ship is pulled completely around, its engines
fighting the pull of the incredibly dense object. The ship
seems to stretch, then crack, and pull apart. The murky
,atmosphere explodes into the void. The Ship is shattered, and
pulverized into smaller and smaller pieces, all forming a long
debris trail that extends toward the neutron star.

129.
EXT. CHARBYDIS QUASAR - JUMP POINT
From nowhere, a huge Fralthi appears. But several moments
later, it receives direct hits from a dozen cannon blasts.
REVERSE ANGLE
The Confed fleet, in attack formation, launches a half -dozen
torpedos. The powerful cannon fire pummels the Kilrathi ship
before it can react.
RESUME JUMP POINT
The Kilrathi carrier breaks apart, and explodes. A second,
smaller ship appears. It too is destroyed in the deadly
ambush.
EXT. CONCORDIA
The great ship seems surrounded by a fireworks display as it
fires torpedos and missiles, and uses its massive cannon array.
INT. BRIDGE - CONCORDIA
Bellegarde approaches Tolwin, who watches grimly from his
chair.
ADJUTANT
The Kilrathi fleet is coming through
the jump point one ship at a time,
Admiral. They have no chance to
defend themselves or warn the ships
behind. Congratulations, sir.
TOLWIN
The butcher in a slaughterhouse
deserves more honor. He, at least
looks his victims in the eye.
This startles Bellegarde into silence.
TOLWIN
Bring the ship about. We let that
Snakeir through like a belled goat.
She'll be coming back. Launch two
Saber wings and a squadron of
Broadswords.
BELLEGARDE
Aye, aye, sir.
EXT. BLAIR'S SABER
The darkened fighter tumbles slowly through space.

130.
INT. COCKPIT - BLAIR
All the instruments are dark. Blair is trembling violently.
BLAIR
(old joke between them)
I have good news and bad news.
Merlin appears in hologram.
MERLIN
What's the bad news?
BLAIR
I'm almost out of oxygen.
MERLIN
And the good news?
BLAIR
I'm going to freeze to death, first.
MERLIN
I'm sorry I can't do anything.
BLAIR
I'm just sorry it was all for nothing.
Where was the fleet, anyway?
MERLIN
Admiral Tolwin is known for doing the
unexpected.
BLAIR
This is how Angel died. Alone.
MERLIN
What am I, chopped liver?
BLAIR
Sorry. Damn, it's cold.
MERLIN
I'm picking up a transmission on my
short range monitor.
BLAIR
What?
Suddenly, the Saber is jolted.
BLAIR
What the hell...?

131.
EXT. SABER & BROADSWORD
A Broadsword bomber has captured the drifting. Saber in its
tractor beam. A strong spotlight illuminates Blair inside the
cockpit. As Blair looks up, the bomber pilot salutes him.
With badly trembling hand, Blair grins and returns the salute.
EXT. CONFED FLEET - CHARBYDIS SECTOR
The Concordia flagship is at the center of the formation. The
Admiral's gig sets off from the carrier.
INT. ADMIRAL'S GIG
Blair is in a clean dress uniform, sitting uncomfortably next
to Admiral Tolwin. An honor guard of Marines and the gig crew
are also aboard.
TOLWIN
You know I sold you down the river,
don't you, Lieutenant.
BLAIR
Sir?
TOLWIN
You were a piece on the board. A
piece.
BLAIR
I understand, sir.
TOLWIN
No, you don't. But that's all right.
In your shoes, Lieutenant, I'd despise
the man sitting next to me.
ADJUTANT
We're in sight of the Tiger Claw,
Admiral.
Both Tolwin and Blair go to a port hole and peer out.
EXT. TIGER CLAW
The battered lady opens her flight deck doors as the Admiral's
gig, approaches. The gig sails through the doors.
INT. FLIGHT DECK - TIGER CLAW
The giant doors close. All available Tiger Claw officers and
crew are at attention before the Admiral's gig. The gig lowers
its ramp. As Tolwin emerges, the traditional pipes are blown
to signal a flagstaff officer's presence on board.

132.
Paladin and the ships officers salute smartly. Tolwin, flanked
by the Marine honor guard approaches Paladin and warmly shakes
his hand.
BLAIR
Comes down the ramp, and sees his shipmates.
TOLWIN
Ladies and gentlemen, I am returning
one of your officers to you. He has
served you well. He has served us
all... very well.
Paladin salutes Blair with a huge grin.
PALADIN
You may join your unit, Lieutenant.
BLAIR
Aye, aye, sir.
Blair walks down the line of white clad officers, toward the
ranks of pilots. Maniac, still at attention, smirks at him.
Then... Blair stops. Deveraux stands before him in her dress
whites, eyes straight ahead, but nervous. Blair goes up to
her, salutes stiffly, fighting tears. She salutes him.
DEVERAUX
Welcome aboard, sailor.
BLAIR
(choking with emotion)
Glad to be aboard, Commander.
Blair falls in among the remaining pilots.
TOLWIN
returns toward his gig. He turns before going up the ramp.
TOLWIN
I have been an officer in the
Confederation Navy for many years. I
have never been prouder of a ship, and
of its officers and crew, than I am
today.
Tolwin disappears into the gig to the sounds of the high shrill
hornpipe, followed by the honor guard. The doors open. The
gig launches through the air clock curtain.
PALADIN
Mister Gerald, I'm returning the
command of this ship to you. You may
dismiss the officers and crew.

133.
GERALD
(smiling)
Aye,aye, Commodore.
Paladin begins walking slowly toward the elevators to the
bridge.
MANIAC
unable to contain himself, takes off his hat and bellows.
MANIAC
Three cheers for the Commodore!
WIDER
As one voice, the ships entire complement enter into a rousing
three "hip -hip, hurrah! "s. Then, hundreds of white hats sail
high into the air and the cheering becomes general. Men hug
men, women hug women, men hug women. And so it is only
Paladin, who turns and notices, lost in the general
jubilation...
BLAIR AND DEVERAUX
locked in a hug that becomes an embrace, that becomes a kiss,
as the cheering pandemonium continues all around them.
FADE OUT.



[[Category:Wing_Commander_Movie]][[Category:Wing_Commander_Encyclopedia]]