The Most Delicate Instrument

The Most Delicate Instrument is the third episode of Wing Commander Academy.

The Most Delicate Instrument
Episode Number	1x03
Production Code	74703
Story	Mark Edens
Writer(s)	Shari Goodhartz
Air Date	October 5, 1996
Run Time	20m55s
Animation Studio	Madhouse
Theme	Version 2
Previous	The Last One Left
Next	Word of Honor

Summary

Act One

Terran Confederation	Empire of Kilrah
Strength
4 CF-105 Scimitar medium fighters 1 Bengal strike carrier (TCS Tiger's Claw)	2 Grikath heavy fighters
Losses
1 Scimitar destroyed	2 Grikath destroyed

Act Three

Terran Confederation	Hallucinating Pilots
Strength
2 F-54 Epee medium attack fighters 1 Bengal strike carrier (TCS Tiger's Claw)	2 CF-131 Broadsword bombers
Losses
	1 Broadsword destroyed, 1 captured

Characters

Speaking

• 

  Commodore Geoffrey Tolwyn

• 

  2nd Lt. Christopher "Maverick" Blair

• 

  2nd Lt. Gwen "Archer" Bowman

• 

  2nd Lt. Todd "Maniac" Marshall

• 

  2nd Lt. Lindsay "Payback" Price

• 

  2nd Lt. Yulan "Hyena" Chang

• 

  2nd Lt. Alan "Blizzard" Getz

• 

  Tech Specialist Maya McEaddens

• 

  Doctor Guthrig Andropolos

• 

  Sensor Tech

• 

  Communications Tech

• 

  Head Security Guard

• 

  Kilrathi Warrior

Nonspeaking

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Ground Crews

• 

  Tiger's Claw Security Guards (3)

• 

  Kilrathi Warrior (3)

• 

  Kilrathi Warrior

Kill Board

Pilot	Sorties	Kills	Status
Maniac	5	3 (1 partial)	Active
Maverick	4	1 (partial)	Active
Archer	3	1	Active
Blizzard	2	1	KIA
Payback	4	0	Active
Easy	1	0	Active
Grunt	1	0	Active
Hyena	1	0	Active
Jazzman	1	0	Active
Viking	1	0	Retired

Locations

Tiger's Claw

• 

  Briefing Room

• 

  Locker Room

• 

  Outside Elevator

• 

  Elevator

• 

  Hangar

• 

  Bridge

• 

  Hallway

• 

  Sick Bay

• 

  Outside Sick Bay

• 

  Blizzard's Quarters

• 

  Outside Blizzard's Quarters

• 

  Guthrig's Office

• 

  Maverick's Quarters

• 

  Archer's Quarters

• 

  Outside Archer's Quarters

• 

  Hallway near Elevator

• 

  Corridor Junction

• 

  Cargo Bay

• 

  Observation Deck

Binary Star System

• 

  Asteroid Field

Cockpits

• 

  Scimitar

• 

  Broadsword

• 

  Epee

Ships

Terran Confederation

Fighters

• 

  CF-105 Scimitar

• 

  F-54 Epee

• 

  CF-117 Broadsword

Capital Ships

• 

  Bengal

Empire of Kilrah

Fighters

• 

  Grikath

Vehicles

Terran Confederation

• 

  Recovery Vehicle

Small Arms

Terran Confederation

• 

  Pistol

• 

  Rifle

Credits

Role	Name
Story by	Mark Edens
Written by	Shari Goodhartz
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, Communications Tech, Security Guard)
	Tom Wilson (Maniac)
	Malcolm McDowell (Tolwyn)
	Dana Delany (Archer)
Also Starring	Lauri Hendler (Payback, Maya, Sensor Tech)
	Kevin Schoen (Hyena, Kilrathi Warrior)
	Pat Fraley (Guthrig, Blizzard)
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	Tim Eldred
	JC Ponce
	Barking Bullfrog Cartoon Co. Inc.
Storyboard Cleanup	Judy Nielson
Timing Directors	Zeon Davush
	Gerard Baldwin
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	Madhouse Animation
Overseas Animation Director	Masao Maryuyama
Produced in Association with	USA Network

Transcript

Act One

SCENE - Briefing Room

Tolwyn: Pay special attention to your drift indicators. These binary stars generate a complex gravitational field. There are no planets... the gravity has pulled them apart before they can form. Now your mission is to scout the asteroid belt. You'll divide into two patrols lead by cadets Blair and Getz.

Maverick: Thank you, sir.

Blizzard: Sir.

Tolwyn: You launch in one hour. Watch out for flying rocks. Dismissed.

SCENE - Ready Room

Payback: With all of space to choose from, Tolwyn can really choose some nasty asteroids for his training exercises. 'Watch out for flying rocks.' (grunts) Man, I hate asteroids.

Archer: Ah, the old man's got his reasons. The Kilrathi won't always let you pick where you want to fight. We need to practice.

Payback: So we play hide and seek in the asteroids. I just want one clear shot at a furball capship.

Blizzard: Archer, I want you to fly wing with me.

Archer: Uh, sure Blizzard.

Blizzard: Good.

Payback: That's the most I've heard Blizzard say since he joined the Academy. I think he likes you.

Archer: (sighs) No way. He'd have to have emotions for that. And they'd get in the way of his flying. (laughs)

Payback: (laughs)

Maverick: What's the joke?

Payback: (laughs) Trust me, you don't want to know.

SCENE - Elevator

Guthrig: (clears throat) I'm on my way to the hangar deck to jog. Even a psychiatrist can appreciate the value of exercise.

Maverick: I thought it might be something like that. Well, we've got a training mission to fly.

Guthrig: I see. I believe numerous banter is useful in relieving pre-flight tension.

Blizzard: I'm never tense.

Archer: That's why we call him Blizzard... he's always frosty.

Guthrig: I see.

SCENE - Flight Deck

Maverick: Hey Maniac, that's my ride.

Maniac: I was just looking out for you, hotshot. Asking, uh, McEadance here if there was a way to boost your shields. There's an awful lot of rocks out here.

Maverick: Yeah, I'll prep my own fighter.

Maya: No, you'll watch me do it.

Maverick: Well, sure Maya, that's what I meant. What was that?

Maniac: We were hit by something, genius. Probably an asteroid.

Maya: That was a missile impact. Felt like the n umber six shield to me.

Tolwyn: Condition red. We are under attack. All pilots to your fighters. Repeat, this is not a drill.

Archer: (groans) Hey! Hold it, Maniac!

Maniac: Sorry Archer, no time to talk.

SCENE - Space

Maverick: Break, break! He's not even trying to pull out.

Blizzard: Stay with me, Payback.

Payback: I'm on your wing, Blizzard.

Blizzard: Arming energy guns.

Payback: This furball's not stopping.

Blizzard: Fire.

Payback: His shields held, break right. N ow!

Maniac: Alright, you faced the rest, now face the best. Hey! Uh. Oh no, my missiles weren't prepped (scream)

Maverick: I'm on his six.

Maniac: Get out of there, Maverick.

Maverick: You had your chance, Maniac. This one's mine. Woah!

SCENE - Bridge

Tolwyn: Any more contacts?

Sensor Tech: No sir. Astral flare. It's off the scale! Our shields are holding.

Tolwyn: What about the fighters? Their shields are a lot weaker than ours.

SCENE - Space

Maverick: (screams)

Maniac: (screams)

Payback: (screams)

Blizzard: (screams)

Act Two

SCENE - Space

Blizzard: Control.

SCENE - Tiger's Claw Bridge

Tolwyn: Get those ships aboard, now.

Communications Tech: Hangar deck, landing status code one. Stand by for emergency landing.

SCENE - Tiger's Claw Hangar

Archer: C'mon guys, make it back. Make it back.

SCENE - Space

Flight Control: That's it Blizzard. Pitch down a couple of degrees so you can see the hangar.

Blizzard: I... I can see it.

Flight Control: Good job, line up on the markers.

Blizzard: Got to... take it... in...

Flight Control: You're coming in too fast! Too wide! Too wide! Abort! Abort!

SCENE - Flight Deck

Archer: Blizzard! I got you Blizzard! (grunts)

Blizzard: (groans)

Archer: You're safe now! You're okay.

Blizzard: I knew... it would be you... Gwen...

Archer: Medic! I need a medic here!

SCENE - Sickbay

Tolwyn: It seems the larger star intermittently draws energy from the smaller one, creating an energy surge between them. You four were just unlucky, in the wrong place at teh wrong time. However, you've all been medically cleared for duty. So, on your feet! Everyone but Marshall, dismissed. Look, I understand you were flying Archer's fighter.

Marshall: Whatever she said, it's a lie. She's been jealous of me from the minute we joined the Academy.

Tolwyn: I was going to commend your initiative, Cadet.

Maniac: Ah, sure. Thank you, sir.

Tolwyn: You're dismissed.

SCENE - Hallway

Maniac: Archer's turned Tolwyn against me.

SCENE - Blizzard's Quarters

Blizzard: (grunts) Must regain control. (grunts) Must regain control. (groans)

Archer: Blizzard? What are you doing in the dark?

Blizzard: Uh, nothing. I'm glad you came. Uh, I... I want to thank you for pulling me out of that.

Archer: Forget it, I would've done the same for any pilot in trouble.

Blizzard: Oh. I thought it was because you knew.

Archer: Knew what?

Blizzard: That I... know I... lve you.

Archer: You, what? Oh, did Payback put you up to this? Oh, wait until I get my hands on her.

Blizzard: No, I've loved you since the first minute I saw you, Gwen.

Archer: You, you really mean...?

Blizzard: I want you to have this.

Archer: Blizzard, you know I can't accept that.

SCENE - Hallway

Archer: Did you see which way Blizzard went?

Maniac: Why? You want to rat him out too?

SCENE - Guthrig's Office

Archer: I'm kind of worried something strange is going on with Blizzard. He said he well, he said that he was in love with me.

Guthrig: I see. How did you feel when he said that?

Archer: It was scary. I mean this is a guy who's always in control, like nothing could ever touch him. And suddenly he's all emotional.

Guthrig: Does it frighten you to think someone might be in love with you?

Archer: This isn't about me, it's Blizzard. And there's something weird about Maniac, t oo, the way he's been watching me and...

Guthrig: Do you think Maniac's in love with you too?

Archer: Will you just listen to me?

SCENE - Ready Room

Kilrathi: We've got your family. We'll get yoo, too.

Payback: (gasps)

Kilrathi: (growls)

Hyena: Payback! Stop! Stop! What are you, nuts or something?

Payback: Where's the cat? You know, the Kilrathi? Where, where is he?

Hyena: You are nuts. Look, if this is your idea of a joke, get a sense of humor before you try another one, okay?

SCENE - Maverick's Quarters

Maverick: And the Kilrathi attacked without any thought of their own survival. How can we hope to beat them? They're so willing to sacrifice themselves! What if we're not good enough? What if I'm not brave enough? Come in. What is it, Payback? What's wrong?

Payback: The Kilrathi. They're aboard the ship.

Maverick: What? The Kilrathi? Have you told Commodore Tolwyn?

Payback: I can't. If the Kilrathi found out, they'd get me. Just like they got my family.

SCENE - Bridge

Maverick: Payback was right! And now Tolwyn's gone over to them.

Archer: Sir, this may sound strange but I think that astral flare did something to the four pilots who were outside when we were hit. Affected their minds somehow.

Tolwyn: Really, Cadet Bowman. Maybe this has something to with Cadet Marshall taking your ship.

Archer: Sir, what are you...

Guthrig: Uh, Bowman told me the electrical systems on those fighters were completely scambled. Technical section should've told me. The human mind is the most delicate electrical instrument of all.

Tolwyn: Are you saying their brains have been scrambled.

Hyena: Uh, Payback, I mean Cadet Price, attacked me, sir. Like she thought I was a furball.

Guthrig: Psycho-electrical derangement could cause hallucinations that would explain the Kilrathi's suicidal attack.

Tolwyn: The Kilrathi don't need explanations.

Guthrig: Even the Kilrathi don't throw their lives away. They should've known their attack was futile. If they were in their right mind. Their judgement may have been impaired by exposure to a previous energy flare.

Tolwyn: Order Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz to the bridge immediately.

Communications Tech: Yes, sir. Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz report to the bridge immediately.

SCENE - Hallway

Communications Tech: Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz report to the bridge immediately.

Maverick: They're on to us. Maniac and Blizzard are the only ones we can trust.

Blizzard: Gwen, open the door. You've got to help me.

Communications Tech: Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz report to the bridge immediately.

Blizzard: Please, they're after me. You've got to help.

SCENE - Archer's Quarters

Blizzard: I, I... don't know what to do, Gwen. I'm scared. I always knew before. It's not me. I'm not me.

Archer: It is you, Alan. It's the real you. The one you've tried to hide all your life. You're afraid of yourself, of your feelings. Of the things that make you real. How could I ever care for someone that wasn't real?

Head Security Guard: Hold it right there. Even a rookie like you should know the crew's quarters are wired for security. Say, you're one of those cadets they're looking for. Crew level D, Security to bridge;

Maniac: Move it, we gotta get out of here.

SCENE - Hallway

Maverick: Maniac, Blizzard! They're after us. We've got to find a safe place to hide.

Communications Tech: Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz report to the bridge immediately.

Maniac: I know a place.

SCENE - Cargo Bay

Tolwyn: This is a direct order. Cadets Blair, Marshall, Price and Getz contact the bridge immediately.

Payback: The Kilrathi have got the whole ship.

Maverick: Even Tolwyn's gone over to them. I saw three Kilrathi on the bridge.

Maniac: Archer's in on it, too. I've been watching her. She sabotaged my weapons systems so they wouldn't fire.

Blizzard: No, not Archer.

Maverick: We're the only ones left.

Blizzard: What are we going to do?

Maverick: We take the Broadsword bombers, they're jump capable. We can escape to another system.

Payback: No, Broadswords are too slow. Tolwyn'll scramble fighters. They'll get us before we can even reach the jump node.

Maniac: Not if we destroy the Tiger's Claw. The Broadswords have enough firepower.

Blizzard: It's our only chance.

Maverick: Let's do it.

Act Three

SCENE - Bridge

Tolwyn: Arrest Blair, price, Marshall and Getz. they may be dangerous. USe any force that's necessary. You know these people. Where would they go? What would they do?

Archer: They're pilots, sir. THey'd want to be in a ship.

Tolwyn: The hangar deck, now!

SCENE - Hangar Deck

Maya: Hey! If you want to know something about my birds you ask me.

Maverick: Are these two weapons prepped?

Maya: Yeah, they're ready to go. We've been on standby alert since we tangled with those Kilrathi.

Maverick: Sure, I'll bet you have.

Head Security Guard: Stay where you are, Blair.

Payback: Let me go you stinking furballs.

Maya: Hey, wait a minute!

Maniac: The Broadsword, come on!

Head Security Guard: Stun force only.

Archer: We gotta go after them.

SCENE - Space

Maverick: Arming torpedoes.

Archer: Maverick, listen. You gotta listen to me. That astral flare did something to your brain. I'm not a Kilrathi. You're hallucinating, it's all in your head.

Hyena: Like that brain scrambling couldn't have affected his aim, too.

Archer: Blizzard, this isn't you! You can fight it! I know you can!

Maverick: (scream) What? What am I doing? That's the Tiger's Claw.

SCENE - Bridge

Sensor Tech: One Broadsword's turned away. But the other's got a torpedo lock. The target's the bridge, sir.

Tolwyn: Divert all power to the shields. If just one torpedo gets through...

SCENE - Space

Archer: Alan, you said you loved me. If that's just a little bit true, you've got to believe me.

Blizzard: Gwen, I... Kilrathi liar!

Tolwyn: Fire, Bowman! Fire!

Archer: Eject, Alan, eject! Eject.

SCENE - Sickbay

Guthrig: You need more psychological tests before I can return you to duty, but this bio-electric stimulation seems to have returned your brain functions to normal.

Maniac: How come you didn't zap Maniac, too?

Maverick: Don't worry, I got mine when Hyena's laser shorted out my cockpit circuits.

PaybacK: Too bad the treatment came too late for Blizzard.

SCENE - Observation Deck

Archer: There's something I've got to ask you, about Blizzard.

Guthrig: Depression and self-doubt are normal reactions to losing a comrade.

Archer: It's not about that. I did what I had to do to save the ship. It's about the hallucinations. Did they come out of nowhere or did they really mean something?

Guthrig: The delusions seem to have been exagerrations of surpressed emotions. Self doubt, jealous rivalry, fear of the Kilrathi.

Archer: Then Blizzard really did...

Guthrig: Blizzard really did what?

Archer: Nothing, Doctor. It doesn't matter now.