Chain of Command

Chain of Command is the sixth episode of Wing Commander Academy aired and the seventh produced.

Lords of the Sky
Episode Number	1x06
Production Code	74707
Story	Mark Edens
Writer(s)	Brooks Wachtel
Air Date	November 2, 1996
Run Time	20m56s
Animation Studio	Madhouse
Theme	Version 1
Previous	Lords of the Sky
Next	Expendable

Summary

Act One

Terran Confederation	Empire of Kilrah
Strength
3 CF-105 Scimitar medium fighters	34 Dioscuri Dralthi medium fighters
Losses
1 Scimitar destroyed	8 Dralthi destroyed

Act Three

Terran Confederation	Empire of Kilrah
Strength
4 CF-105 Scimitar medium fighters 1 Shuttle	12 Dioscuri Dralthi medium fighters
Losses
	command and control installation destroyed

Characters

Speaking

• 

  Commodore Geoffrey Tolwyn

• 

  2nd Lt. Christopher "Maverick" Blair

• 

  2nd Lt. Gwen "Archer" Bowman

• 

  2nd Lt. Todd "Maniac" Marshall

• 

  2nd Lt. Hector "Grunt" Paz

• 

  Dioscuri Chieftan

• 

  Kilrathi Commander

• 

  Kilrathi Sensor Operator

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

Nonspeaking

• 

  Tiger's Claw Bridge Crew (5)

• 

  2nd Lt. Lindsay "Payback" Price & 2nd Lt. Yulan "Hyena" Chang

• 

  Guards (3) and Medic

• 

  Medics

• 

  Dioscuri Child

• 

  Dioscuri Pilot

• 

  Dioscuri Priest (left)

• 

  Dioscuri Raiding Party

• 

  Dioscuri Raiding Party (3)

• 

  Dioscuri Raiding Party

• 

  Dioscuri Raiding Party (2)

• 

  Dioscuri Temple Guard

• 

  Dioscuri Search Party

• 

  Dioscuri Search Party (5)

• 

  Dioscuri Torch Bearers (2)

• 

  Dioscuri Ceremony Attendees (3)

• 

  Dioscuri Musicians (2)

• 

  Prince Thrakhath nar Kiranka

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier (right)

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier (3, right)

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier

• 

  Kilrathi Soldier (center)

• 

  Kilrathi Soldiers (2)

• 

  Alien Skulls (3)

• 

  Alien Skulls (3)

• 

  Alien Skulls (2)

Locations

Tiger's Claw

• 

  Briefing Room

• 

  Hangar

• 

  Bridge

• 

  Observation Deck

Dioscuri 2

• 

  Environs

• 

  Sky

• 

  Canyon

• 

  Crash Site

• 

  City

• 

  Temple

• 

  Mountain Path

• 

  Kilrathi Base

• 

  Dralthi Crash Site

Cockpits

• 

  Scimitar

Fauna

• 

  Discurian Ovizard

Ships

Terran Confederation

Fighters

• 

  CF-105 Scimitar

• 

  Shuttle

Capital Ships

• 

  Bengal

Empire of Kilrah

Fighters

• 

  Jump Buoy

• 

  Dralthi

Vehicles

Terran Confederation

• 

  Scimitar Ejection Pod

Small Arms

Terran Confederation

• 

  Pistol

• 

  Shotgun

Empire of Kilrah

• 

  Rifle

Dioscuri

• 

  Axe

• 

  Ceremonial Axe

• 

  Bolas

• 

  Club

• 

  Spear

Credits

Role	Name
Story by	Mark Edens
Written by	Brooks Wachtel
Producer	Larry Latham
Executive Story Editors	Mark Edens
	Michael Edens
Executive Consultant	Ralph Sanchez
Executive Story Consultants	Richard Hilleman
	Adam Foshko
Starring	Mark Hamill (Maverick)
	Tom Wilson (Maniac)
	Malcolm McDowell (Tolwyn)
	Dana Delany (Archer)
Also Starring	Jessica Walters (Bergstrom)
	Kevin Schoen (Thrakhath)
	Pat Fraley (Grunt, Gharal)
Music by	Alexander Van Bubenheim
Voice Direction and Casting	Susan Blu
Pre-Production Sound by	Screenmusic Studios, Inc.
Pre-Production Sound Mixer	Pete Elia
Recording Assistant	Mark Caballero
Storyboards	Ian Freedman
	Sean Bishop
	Bob Smith
Storyboard Cleanup	Judy Nielson
Timing Directors	John Cataldi
	Donna Mouliot
	Max Becraft
	Carole Beers
Character Design	Larry Latham
	Tim Eldred
Prop Design	Lee Go
Background Design	Derek Carter
Background Color Key	Kathryn Yelsa
Computer Color Key	Cynthia McIntosh
Studio Production Manager	Alex Johns
Production Manager	Patty Jausoro
Production Coordinator	Estrella Capin
Production Assistants	Aaron Justman
	Scott Huml
	Manuel Cano
	Monte Alexander
	Junior Gonzalez
	Danik Thomas
Executive in Charge of Post Production	Barbara Beck
Editors	Jay Bixsen
	Paul D. Calder
Assistant Editor	Michael Trueba
Track Reading	Glenwood Editorial
Negative Cutting	Executive Cutting
Post Production Video	Unitel Video, Hollywood
Post Production Sound	West Productions Inc.
Supervising Sound Editor	Rick Hinson
Re-Recording Mixers	John Boyd
	Stuart Calderon
Overseas Animation Studio	Koko Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Produced in Association with	USA Network

Transcript

Act One

SCENE - Briefing Room

Tolwyn: The Dioscuri System, gentlemen. Seven planets orbiting a G-type star. Dioscuri-2 is inhabited, a primitive humanoid civilization. Too primitive to comprehend space travel or the existence of other inhabited worlds. Avoid all contaminating contact. That's what the textbook says. Now here's what I say: I want a close recon of that planet. There's already been more Kilrathi activity in this star sector than anyone expected. If the Kilrathi have set foot there, I want to see a picture of the paw print.

Maverick: Sir, I thought Archer... uh, I mean Cadet Bowman was supposed to be a part of this flight.

Tolwyn: At her request, Bowman is on reserve status, temporarily excused duty. Dismissed.

Maverick, Grunt and Maniac: Yes, sir!

SCENE - Dioscuri 2 Environs

Maniac: Okay boys, you heard the old man, let's dip down near the surface and do a atmospheric flyover. If we split up we can make a wide sweep.

Maverick: Uh, are you sure you want to do that? We're already short one pilot without Archer. If the Kilrathi are down there we'll each be caught without a wingman.

Maniac: (laughs) Ooh, scary. What's the matter, Maverick, you afraid of the big cats? Don't worry, if you can't handle it I'll come save you.

Maverick: Hey, recommended procedure when approaching an unsecured planet...

Maniac: Uh, uh (fake static) Uh, come again Maverick (fake static) didn't copy. Uh (fake static) Your transmission's breaking up

Maverick: Suit yourself, Maniac.

Maniac: Heh, yeah.

SCENE - Dioscuri 2

Maverick: Atmospheric hydrocarbon normal. No electromag radiation. (laughs) Nothing big on infrared excet some volcanic activity. Woah! Whoever it is, they don't mess around. Maniac, Grunt, I'm under attack, fighters coming up from the planet's surface, dozens of them. Missile launch! (groans) Way too close. Some primitive planet! Come on, baby! Get out of here! (screams) Come on! Bucket of bolts, respond! Respond! Oh Maniac, I told you so. Maverick to Maniac, I have abandoned ship. Activating pod tracking transmitter. You got me into this man, now get me out of here.

Maniac: Alright sit tight Maverick, we've linked up and are on our way. Cavalry's coming.

Maverick: Watch your back. One on one these guys are no match for a Scimitar but there's a lot of them.

Maniac: Well, you just sit back and watch a real pilot work. Woah, man, Maverick wasn't kidding. We're going to have to punch our way through.

Grunt: Understood.

Maniac: Grunt! See if you can draw some of these guys off.

Grunt: Roger, on my way.

Maniac: (grunts) Just a little more. Woo hoo! Not bad, hot shot... but I'm the best.

SCENE - Space

Grunt: So long, losers.

SCENE - Crash Site

Maniac: Maverick! Maverick? You aren't Maverick! Oh man, I hate it on the ground.

Dioscuri: (yelling)

Maniac: Ugh! Okay. Uncle.

SCENE - Dioscuri Camp

Maniac: You might have warned me.

Maverick: Hey, I never had a chance, they pulled me out as soon as the pod touched down.

Maniac: if you were half the pilot I am you wouldn't have gotten us in this mess.

Maverick: (groans) Well if you hadn't split us up I would've had a wingman back there.

Maniac: Oh, it's a poor workman who blames his tools.

Maverick: Oh, I hate it when you say that.

SCENE - Dioscuri City

Maverick: I don't know about you, Maniac, but this place gives me the creeps.

Maniac: You know, we could be in real trouble when we get out of here. The Confederation probably considers getting captured to be a cultural contamination.

Maverick: I think they've already been contaminated. Take a look at that statue. That's Prince Thrakhath.

Act Two

SCENE - Space

Grunt: I've lost the ships and I've lost all contact with both Maverick and Maniac.

Tolwyn: Understood. Hold your position. We'll vectoring a flight of Scimitars to Dioscuri 2 to help with the rescue, but it'll be a few hours before they can get there. Do not, repeat, do not attempt a solo rescue.

Grunt: Yes sir, Grunt out. The Marines had one rule when I was with them at Repleetah: nobody gets left behind.

SCENE - Crash Site

Grunt: (groans) And I thought I was through with all that behind enemy lines crud when I transferred out of the marines.

Dioscuri: (yelling)

Grunt: (cheering) Don't mess with the marines.

SCENE - Dioscuri City

Maniac: They could at least let us stand up. I think my feet are getting numb.

Maverick: Yeah, like your head.

Maniac: Oh hah hah. Ow.

Maverick: I've still got the personal transponder from the ejection pod. The rescue flight will be able to hone in on it.

Maniac: Well turn it on, Grunt can track it, he'll get us out of here.

Maverick: Oh, it's in my pocket.

Maniac: (groans) If I wasn't tied up.

Maverick: quiet! Look! It's okay, we won't hurt you.

Maniac: How can we, tied up like this?

Maverick: Oh, now look what you did! What, is that your goal, to get this whole planet ticked off at us?

Maniac: Oh hey, what did I do? I was just, you know...

Chieftain: Do you hear the drums? It mourns for the riders of the chariots that fly. Many will not return.

Maniac: (laughs) Hey, you bite, we bite back.

Maverick: We were only defending ourselves. We didn't expect you to have fighters like that.

Chieftain: The lords of the sky gave us the flying chariots to protect ourselves from the lords of darkness.

Maniac: Look, we're the lords of the sky. Those things are the lords of darkness.

Maverick: No, we're not lords of anything. We're beings like you, only from other worlds. The ones that gave you the fighters, or chariots, we're at war with them. They said they were the lords of the sky to trick you. That's the difference between us and the Kilrathi, they lie to you, we tell the truth.

Chieftain: The mouths of the dark lords... are a well of lies! You will be sacrificed to the Llords of the sky

Maniac: Great job, Maverick, you sure convinced him.

SCENE - Dioscuri Temple

Grunt: (groans) Now I remember why I left the infantry. (grunts)

Chieftan: Oh lords of the sky, accept these offerings, your sworn enemies. Feast on their spirits and grow strong.

Maverick: Maniac, I want to apologize. You know, for getting you killed.

Maniac: Ah, it's my fault, Maverick. You were my wingman, we should've stuck together.

Maniac: Pretty high tech ceremony these guys put on.

Maverick: Yeah, Kilrathi high tech!

Act Three

SCENE - Dioscuri Temple

Commander: Great Shaman, the lords of the sky are pleased with these noble offerings. Yes, very pleased. Now go, leave us to accept your offerings.

Maniac: Uh, pardon my curiosity but what are you going to do with us?

Commander: The Dioscurians believe we are going to devour you. The reality will not be that present.

Maverick: The Kilrathi mock Sivar by pretending to be lords of the sky.

Commander: Sivar is exalted when the Kilrathi trick their enemies.

Maverick: (grunts)

Commander: Look what we have done with this planet. With a mere handful of warriors we control it. We've armed the primitives with our discarded weapons and turned this planet against the Confederation.

Maverick: What if they turn those fighters against you?

Commander: This mountain is taboo, forbidden. The primitives are afraid to fly near it. And if they do fight us, the ships won't fly without enabling codes which we transmit. (laughs) You see, we are truly lords of the sky. If you would be so kind as to carry the offerings. The food is simple here, but sufficient.

Maniac: Hah, carry it yourself. And I hope you hock up a furball when you eat it.

Maverick: Uh, Maniac, this isn't the time.

Maniac: Sure, heh, why not. Maybe I got a future in food services.

Commander: Hmm. For the moment you seemed to have the heart of a Kilrathi.

SCENE - Mountain Path

Maniac: (groans) Remind me never to fly with you again. Ow!

Soldier: On your feet, Terran.

Grunt: Stay down!

Soldier #1: (grunts)

Soldier #2: (screams)

Grunt: (grunts) Come on, move it!

Commander: I want them alive.

Maverick: We won't be able to outrun them, the Kilrathi are born hunters.

Grunt: Yeah, well I'm no bunny rabbit.

Soldier #1: (scream)

Commander: Fall back to the mountain top. The hunting karrigle has more than one talon in which to catch its prey.

Grunt: Looks like they're pulling back. Maybe we can reach the fighters. Mine's in the canyon not too far from Maniac's.

Maverick: No, that's no good. We've got to knock out the transmitter that sends the enabling code to the Dioscurians or the rescue team will fly right into an ambush. There's not much time.

Maniac: Well I say we join the marines.

SCENE - Kilrathi Base

Commander: The Terrans must have reached their ships by now. Shoot them down as soon as they left off.

Sensor Operator: Three contacts coming in from space.

Commander: More Terrans. Transmit the enabling codes. Our Dioscurian friends can handle them.

SCENE - Dioscuri 2

Archer: Grunt, do you copy? Come on Grunt, answer me. Look sharp, we've got company. Lock on targets and prepare to fire on my signal. Proximity bursts only. No casualties unless we have to.

SCENE - Kilrathi Base

Commander: We're under attack, reinforce the perimeter.

Grunt: Man, we could use some air support.

Maverick: Wait, my transponder! (grunts)

SCENE - Dioscuri 2

Archer: A transponder signal, yes! Way to go Maverick! Payback, Hyena, hold off those fighters. I'm going down for a closer look.

SCENE - Kilrathi Base

Sensor Operator: One of the Terran fighters is approaching. Target lock confirmed.

Archer: Woah, too close. Can't evade.

Grunt: One... shot.

Archer: I have to do it. I have to.

Maniac: Hey Grunt! How'd it feel to be a ground pounder again?

Grunt: I think I'll stick to flying. But for a couple of pampered fighter jocks, you two made pretty good marines. Uh but don't ever call me a ground pounder again okay.

Maverick: (laughs) You rest up, the wing needs you.

SCENE - Dioscuri City

Maverick: Forget the lords of the sky and the chariots that fly. Return to your old ways. The Confederation will watch over your planet. If the Kilrathi return, so will we. Uh, anything else I should say, Maniac?

Maniac: Tell 'em... (laughs) the real lords of the sky have spoken! (laughs)