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StarCraft: The Movie [Part 1]
By Aragorn
EXT. SPACE
We stare at a screen of space, small distant stars dotting the blackness in front of us. Blood-red text begins to appear, fading in slowly:
TEXT:
In the distant future, humans have come a long way in their technological advancements. Earth, once the only planet that humans occupied, was joined by other human-habitable planets once light speed travel and commercial spaceships were developed. Humans left the Earth in search of other planets that better fit their needs and skills. Some people would even argue that Earth is no longer the Human home world, for many other planets had a far greater human population. However, there are still billions of undiscovered planets. New planets are being discovered almost daily with new technology.
EXT – SPACE – MAR SARA
The text fades out and we pan down to show a brown planet filling up the screen.
SUBTITLE:
Mar Sara
EXT. MAR SARA – DAY
This is a hot, barren, dessert wasteland of a planet. Multiple SCV's worked away at mining some crystal-like minerals that occupied a large corner of the desert, right next to a low overshadowing cliff. Inside each of the hulking robot-on-wheel suits, is a person at the many complicated controls. These workers used the suits to saw, chip, and burn away at the crystals, to prepare them for the journey back to the closest Command Center, where they would then be shipped off-planet to one of the many Factories used to convert them into a form of energy.
About a half dozen of these SCV's are work hard and long hours late into the scorching hot day. Inside one of these suits is JUSTIN, just another regular everyday SCV worker. He takes one of his hands off a set of controls to wipe a large amount of sweat off his face, and then lower a MIC down in front of his mouth from the ceiling of his little compartment, before putting that hand back on the controls.
JUSTIN
Hey Drew, how're you holding up in this heat?
Inside one of the other SCV's is DREW, an older man with the wrinkles to show. He looks like he's about ready to pass out.
DREW
Still kickin'.
JUSTIN
I hope those assholes in Command give us an extra break or something. This heat is just ridiculous, and being stuck inside these suits don't help much either.
Justin’s robotic suit hands grabbed a large chunk of the crystalline minerals and turned away from the mountain of the material, wheeling away on its treads. A second SCV appeared close beside him, also with a handful of minerals.
DREW
Don't put money on it. They don't give two shits about us. They get to stay inside the air conditioned Command Center all day. To them, it's almost like a winter day and themselves is all they care about.
Justin and Drew wheeled over the rough barren terrain, maneuvering around various obstacles created by nature, trying not to get stuck in small cracks that littered the ground, or hit large chunks of rock sticking up. The tiny bit of vegetation such as small lone ferns or small patches of tall yellow grass, were of no worry to them and they just rolled right on overtop of them.
JUSTIN
I can't believe I actually requested this job. I mean, my wife and newborn son are still back on Antiga Prime. They won't be transferring out here for another half a year, once my wife can get her job to transfer her to the colony here.
DREW
I always did think you youngins were crazy to request a transfer to a place like this.
JUSTIN
Well the pay raise and benefits package they were offering was way too good to pass up, especially compared to the piece of shit contract I was on back on Antiga Prime. Hell, it was even worse then the ones they offer on Earth, and you'd think that with that planet barely habitable these days, they'd have a good contract for the people there. And what about you, old-timer?
Drew chuckles.
DREW
I'm nearing the end of my road, kid. I have no family, and nothing left to look forward to except retirement and a nice villa on Tyrador 9. That's why I offer to take the shithole jobs that nobody else wants. That way people who do have families don't have to be separated from them, like yourself.
By this point, they have reached a small dusty hill and traveled to the top. Once at the top, they stop on the cliff, overlooking the small but busy colony below. Among the rows of small housing developments and the couple general stores, there are also an Academy for the children of the workers to continue their education, a row of small Teraforming stations to keep the air on the planet breathable, a warehouse, a Barracks for the small Marine presence along with several bunkers spread around the perimeter of the colony, and a large circular building right smack-dab in the middle of the colony – the Command Center, with a ComSat station attached to the side of it for communication purposes.
DREW
Ah, home sweet home.
Down below in the colony, the streets were busy with citizens walking to and fro, including a few regiments of Marines doing their rounds, along with a platoon of new Marines doing their training just outside the Barracks.
JUSTIN
I still don't agree with the military presence. It just makes everyone nervous, and I've heard stories about some of them forcing themselves onto some of the younger girls.
DREW
Caldswallop. That's just rumors started by people with nothing better to do. The Confederacy's Military is one to be proud of, kid. We owe them our gratitude and thanks for some of the wars they've fought to protect us. I doubt you were alive for The Covenant War, but believe me when I say it was ugly as a 25 cent whore. No, the ones you should be hating are those Sons of Korhal terrorist scumbuckets. If it weren't for them, the Confederates wouldn't need military protection for all their colonies.
Drew and Justin start down the side of the cliff towards the colony below.
JUSTIN
I thought the war was ending soon? I've heard that they've located Arcturus Mengsk and it was only a matter of time before they apprehended him.
DREW
Nah, that's just bullshit that the News is spreading to make it look like we're actually getting somewhere in this war.
JUSTIN
So they havn't found him?
DREW
They're no closer to finding him now then they were the day they nuked Korhal to kingdom come.
They reach the bottom of the cliff and drive past a large set of bones, which belonged to some giant creature native to the planet, long-since having died. They move in between two bunkers spaced far apart, each with a couple Marines inside, looking out across the desolate desert. They arrive onto the dusty dirt-covered streets of the colony from behind a row of homes, and make their way towards the warehouse. Along the way, various people move out of their way in the streets, and a couple even say a friendly greeting. They also get passed by a few hover cars and Vultures, which were basically elongated hover motorcycles. Drew furiously dabbed a cloth to his forehead, wiping more sweat away.
DREW
I swear, if it gets any...
He instantly stops when the noise of distant gunfire enters their ears. Drew and Justin stop their SCV's in the middle of the street as every one else that is outside also stops and starts looking around, confusion setting in.
JUSTIN
Target practice maybe?
DREW
I don't think so. The military always have notices put up and announcements made days before any scheduled target practice.
More gunfire continues, this time followed by sounds of painful screaming. Panic begins to rise in the citizens of the colony.
JUSTIN
Drew, what the fuck is going on? What are those jarheads firing at out there?
DREW
Probably just some local wildlife. They get antsy when they don’t see any action, and it's not uncommon for some of those Spider Wolves to attack if they're hungry enough.
RANDOM CITIZEN
Not the season for Spider Wolves. They stick to the other side of the planet this time of year.
DREW
Then it's some other animal. I doubt it's anything for us to worry about.
More gunfire mixed with screams.
RANDOM CITIZEN 2
Can anyone think of any animal here that can put up a fight with the military?
Everyone looks around at each other, but no one answers. Just then a small four-legged creature walks around the corner of one of the buildings. It is about half the height of the average human, with its hind legs taller then its short front legs. It's small head has a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth, two small beady eyes, a small protective crest above its neck, and two pieces of sharp curved bone jutting out from either side of its face, much like mandibles. It's entire top is protected under a layer of hard, sharp, jagged shell, with a small but thick tail swishing back and forth behind it. Also on its back are two limbs that arch high overhead and end in sharp sickles instead of hands. It is a ZERGLING.
RANDOM CITIZEN 3
Look!
Everyone turns to where he's pointing and gasp when they see the zergling.
RANDOM CITIZEN 3
What the fuck is that!?
The creature turns to look at the crowd at the sound of the commotion and it starts jumps back in a defensive posture and starts hissing wildly.
RANDOM CITIZEN 1
Is that what the Marines were firing at?
More wild gunfire fills the air in the distance.
DREW
Can't be. They're still firing.
RANDOM CITIZEN 3
I vote we all slowly back away and leave.
The hissing turns into a low growl and the zergling bounds forward, breaking into a run, heading right for the group of citizens.
RANDOM CITIZEN 4
Run!
Out and out panic breaks out as everyone on the street runs off in random directions, the two SCV's wheeling away as fast as they can – which isn't very quickly. The small creature is quickly joined by three others that arrived from various other directions, and they start chasing after the fleeing and screaming people. One person is dragged to the ground as one of the zerglings leaped and landed on their back. Painful screams ring out as sharp teeth dig into the person's back, ripping through skin and muscle, spilling globs of blood everywhere. To silence the screams, the two sickles held high above the zergling by its to thin flimsy limbs, begin to rapidly swing down and back up, then down and back up repeatedly, slicing into the person, ending his screams quickly. Another person is jumped by two more zerglings and his screams also don't last long. A third person is about to run into the safety of a building, when another of the creatures leap from the roof of that building and land on the screaming person.
JUSTIN
Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit....
Justin and Drew turn down an ally between buildings, away from everyone else, as the zerglings chase after the others. However, the town is now flooded by the creatures and one of them stops at the fork in the road and locates the fleeing SCV's and screeches. It is soon joined by two others and they shoot off down the side street, in quick pursuit of the SCV's.
JUSTIN
What the hell are those things!?
DREW
Hell if I know, but just keep...
He's cut off as the three zerglings leap on to Drew’s SCV, knocking the heavy machine to the ground. They furiously try to reach through the sides of the bared protective front, but can't quite reach him. Two of them are rapidly scratching at the back of the machine, hoping to dig through but with no luck.
DREW
Help me!
The zerglings stick their back legs up higher as they crouch their front legs, aiming their sickle limbs forward. They begin slashing out with them furiously and without mercy, slashing Drew deep. Drew's screams for help soon turn to screams of pain, gargled by his flowing blood.
Justin is not around to hear Drew’s screams however, for he has continued on, using Drew as the perfect diversion to get away from the creatures. He emerges out of the alley and back out onto another street near the front of the gigantic circular Command Center. All that there is for Justin to see, are dead bodies of a platoon of marines laying around, blood splattered all over the ground, mixed with ripped limbs littering the area. There are more screams and Justin turns, seeing that the doors to the Command Center have been ripped open. The screams are coming from inside.
Justin turns again, driving towards the perimeter of the colony, hoping to escape the massacre taking place. He doesn't make it far though, for the ground collapses below him and he painfully falls into the cavern below that had just been opened up. After the dust settled from his fall, he winces in pain and he rolls the machine over onto its back. He unlocks himself from the safety harness and opens the front of the suit up, allowing him to painfully climb out. He hears mutliple hissing, and then stops instantly and looks back behind him to see dozens of zerglings rushing towards him from an underground tunnel, screeching and hissing. They are on him within seconds.
EXT. SPACE – TARSONIS
We see a planet sitting in space that is similar to Earth, but has large sections of it covered in cities that are the size of countries.
SUBTITLE:
Tarsonis
EXT. TARSONIS – EL SECRO MILITARY BASE – DAY
A large military complex sits in the thick of one of these giant cities. There is an electric fence surrounding the compound however.
INT. EL SECRO – HALLWAY
A large, balding, heavyset man in his late 50’s walks quickly down the busy halls. This is GENERAL EDMUND DUKE. The halls are bustling with activity as various people scurry around, trying to figure out what happened at their base on Mar Sara, which we know from various bits and pieces of hurried, confused, and panicking dialogue we catch from various people as Duke walks quickly down the hall, and then stops outside a door, swiping his security card, and then going through the door.
INT. EL SECRO – COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
He enters the communications room, which is just as busy, as techs pour over all the consoles.
DUKE
Status report! Somebody tell me just what the hell is going on, on that planet!
TECH 1
Sir, we received a distress call from the Mar Sara colony 'MS-001' at 0800. They were being attacked by unknown creatures and requested immediate assistance, sir.
DUKE
Surely the military presence there was enough for any form of native life.
TECH 1
Sir, these weren't natives. They had no record of these creatures ever being on the planet before, sir.
DUKE
Are you telling me that something landed on that planet and attacked them?
TECH 1
Sir, it seems that way. All efforts to re-establish contact with colonies MS-001 and MS-002 have failed, sir.
Duke sighs and stares intently at the screen, giving various read-outs.
DUKE
Call in the troops.
INT. TARSONIS – HOUSE – BEDROOM
JACK SHELDON, turns over in his bed and moans as his ringing phone wakes up from a nice sleep. He reaches for it and puts it up to his ear as he closes his eyes and rolls back into bed.
JACK
Hello?
VOICE
Private Sheldon? It's Sergeant Brick. As of this minute, your Leave has been cancelled.
Jack's eyes shoot open as he instantly sits straight up.
JACK
What? But sir, you can't...
BRICK
(v.o.)
Sorry son, those orders come straight down from General Duke himself. You need to get to El Secro, pronto.
Jack moans as he hangs up the phone. Suddenly a shape moves next to him and DANIELLE BLAKE sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
DANIELLE
Who was that?
JACK
Sergeant Brick. He needs everyone at El Secro ASAP. Leave's been cancelled.
DANIELLE
He can't do that! That's bullshit!
JACK
Orders from the General.
DANIELLE
Shit.
(pause)
Ok, so which one of us should arrive there first?
JACK
You go on. If Sarg asks how you found out, just say you were talking to me. Hopefully he doesn't try calling you until almost last.
EXT. CITY – DAY
Jack flies his hover car through the busy traffic and faster-then-allowed speeds. In the background around him are dozens of floating video ads for various things.
EXT. EL SECRO – DAY
Jack screeches his hover car to a stop as it swoops in for a perfect landing and parking. He leaps out of it quickly and rushes up to the guards protecting the gate.
GUARD
I.D. please.
Jack fumbles and pulls out his ID badge. The guard looks at it, hands it back, and gives a hand signal to one of the guards on the other side of the fence. The electricity hums off and the two guards on the outside of the fence grab it and pull it open. Jack rushes through and runs down the paved walkway, towards the building.
INT. EL SECRO – HALLWAY
Just on the inside, Jack has to show his ID again. After getting accepted, he rushes into the main hall and down it, around a couple corners, up a flight of stairs, down another hall, around another corner, and then through a set of large double doors.
INT. EL SECRO – BRIEFING ROOM
The small room is filled quite tightly with dozens upon dozens of bodies sitting in hard plastic seats, all facing the front of the room where there was a small podium. Jack makes his way through the sea of bodies, excusing himself, until he sits with Danielle and HARRY BROWN.
JACK
Oh wow, there must be at least seven other squads in here.
HARRY
Yeah, at least that many. This is something big.
DANIELLE
What took you so long?
Danielle smiles playfully.
JACK
I must have been on of the last ones contacted. I was sleeping when Sarge called.
HARRY
With who?
JACK
What? By myself.
HARRY
Bullshit. You can't tell me that with this being the first Leave in almost a year, that you went clubbing last night and didn't go home with a hot girl. Tell me I'm wrong.
Jack and Danielle exchange glances.
JACK
You're so wrong.
Another soldier, COREY HEART, notices General Duke enter the room with Sergeant Brick at his side and instantly jumps to his feet.
COREY
Officer Present!
Everyone in the room gets to their feet and salutes as they see the two men make their way to the front.
BRICK
At ease, gentleman.
The soldiers lower their hands and take their seats.
DUKE
At 0800 this morning, we received a distress call from Mar Sara colony MS-001. They were attacked by creatures of unknown origin. Shortly afterwards, we lost all communications with both colony MS-001 and colony MS-002. We know nothing else about the situation, but have already dispatched an A Squad on a reconnaissance mission to gather some Intelligence.
Jack raises his hand and Duke nods at him.
JACK
Sir, is it possible that its Covenant forces, sir?
DUKE
Negative. The Covenant were completely wiped out when most of you were still forming inside your momma's bellies. Now, the rest of you will make up B, C, and D Squads, and will be sent in to aid A Squad if the situation demands in. In the meantime, you are all to remain on Stand By.
Another of the soldiers raise his hands and Duke nods at him.
SOLDIER
How will the Squads be divided up, sir?
DUKE
Each squad will have a set number of people for each area of expertise, based off the information sent back to us by A Squad. Any further questions?
(pause)
Well then, dismissed.
The entire room stands at attention as Duke, followed by Brick, march out of the room. After they have left, everyone else relaxes and starts making their way out of the overly-crowded room.
JACK
I think they secretly think it could be the Covenant.
HARRY
Nah man, you heard the General.
JACK
Yeah, but why else organize so many of us into such a large attack force if it's for something small?
HARRY
Maybe it's the Sons of Korhal. They could have unleashed some kind of dangerous creatures onto that planet from another planet. Maybe this will turn into a retaliation attack on them.
They converge into the giant crowd trying to exit the room, and end up right behind Corey and a couple of his buddies.
COREY
This is insane. I can't believe I got called off my leave for a bunch of stupid colonists that can't even protect themselves from some local critters. It's bullshit.
JACK
I think it's something more then just that.
Corey turns to face him.
COREY
(sarcastically)
Oh, do you, Jacky-boy? Maybe you're in the wrong profession with that ESP of yours. You should have joined the Empath Academy.
Corey chuckles and his buddies laugh, but Jack just looks on at them with hatred.
DANIELLE
I don't care what it is, as long as we get to kick some alien ass.
That gets a few cheers of agreement from various people in the vicinity, and Danielle laughs. Jack leans into her to whisper.
JACK
If you want some ass, just come back to my place again.
Danielle smiles and bites her lip.
HARRY
Hey, who's all up for a match of Tri-Ball at the gym?
This gathers a large uproar of people thinking that's an awesome idea. Harry taps Jack on the shoulder.
HARRY
So it looks like a bunch of us are going to the gym to play a big game of Tri-Ball. You game?
Jack looks back at Danielle, who motions that he should go. Jack looks back at Harry.
JACK
Yeah, definitely.
HARRY
Alright, we'll all meet there this afternoon at 1430.
Danielle leans into Jack and whispers in his ear.
DANIELLE
That's plenty of time.
Jack looks back at her and she smiles seductively.
EXT. SPACE – MAR SARA
In orbit about Mar Sara sits the gigantic battlecruiser ‘The Wanderer’.
INT. WANDERER – BRIDGE
On the bridge, dozens of techs work away at the various consoles. CAPTAIN FIPE stands, hands behind his back, as he watches out the giant front window at the planet below.
FIPE
Dropships 1 and 2, deploy.
One of the techs moves a MIC down in front of his mouth from a headset and repeats that into the MIC.
TECH
Dropships 1 and 2 are a-go. Repeat, dropships 1 and 2 are a-go.
INT. WANDERER – DOCKING BAY
A handful of workers back away from the dropships as two of them hum to life, powering up and an alarm begins to blare. A couple other grease-covered workers stand in front of the dropships, waving flashing lights in various motions, before also stepping out of the way and joining the other workers in leaving the room. Once everyone is out of the room, the bay doors slowly slide open, all the oxygen quickly whooshing out of the room. The Dropships, one slightly after the other, slightly lift off the floor and blast out of the docking bay and into space, leaving the third dropship behind in the bay.
EXT. SPACE – MAR SARA
The dropships leave the battlecruiser behind as they zoom through space, aiming for the planet.
INT. THE WANDERER – BRIDGE
Captain Fipe watches the dropships blast away from his ship through the giant view window.
FIPE
Good-luck.
He turns and strides over to a set of computer consoles. On them, Six security cameras are up and running. Two show the insides of the two dropships and the military personal that are strapped in tightly inside of them. The other three are external cameras on the dropships – two of those show the planet Mar Sara slowly approaching, the third showing the inside of the ship's docking bay. The final camera shows nothing but static.
FIPE
Where are we on fixing that camera?
A voice fills the room over the intercom, from inside that third dropship.
VOICE
Just about there, sir. Just give...me...two seconds...
Fipe stares at the screen in silence for a few seconds, when suddenly it comes on, fizzing in and out of static a few times before landing on a solid static-free image. It shows the inside of the third dropship and everyone seated in it, as well as a close-up of the man right up next to it, fixing it. He backs away and looks into the camera.
FIPE
That's good, we're getting feed now.
The man nods at the camera and puts his tools away in a cabinet, locking it before sitting down with the others and strapping himself in.
FIPE
Dropship 3, you are now ok to deploy.
INT. WANDERER – DOCKING BAY
The last dropship detaches from the floor and lifts up into the air for a second before whooshing out of the ship, the docking bay doors slowly closing behind it.
EXT. SPACE – MAR SARA
Now The Wanderer sits high above the planet of Mar Sara, three little specs of dropships heading towards the planet. The Wanderer sits at the very edge of the screen, so we can't see beyond it, however the back of it is strangely lit up in a mysterious blue reflection.
INT. THE WANDERER – BRIDGE
VOICE
Wanderer, this is Dropship 2. You're never going to believe this, but if you haven't been looking at your rear views, I highly suggest you do.
A small commotion starts on the bridge as everyone scrambles to figure out what he's talking about.
FIPE
Rear view on large screen, now!
A gigantic screen suddenly turns on, showing behind the battlecruiser. Everyone in the room gasps, including Fipe. There is a gigantic ship, easily five times the size of the battlecruiser, just sitting there. It is outlined in a gold-colored metal in a triangular shape, with bright flashing blue lights dotting all around the edge, and a giant bulging blue shield of energy making up the middle of the ship. In the very center of that bulging shield of blue energy, is a golden tower with a giant blue crystal hovering above it, which seems to be what is powering the blue energy shield. Overall, the scene is very beautiful and serene, as well as mysterious.
FIPE
What the hell is that, and why can't we pick it up on our sensors?
The techs scramble to find answers, but are coming up with none.
FIPE
How long has it been there!?
EXT. SPACE – MAR SARA
The new mysterious ship, without warning, fires three small blasts of energy, each one directed at each dropship. The third dropship is destroyed instantly, but the first two manage to slightly maneuver and evade the blasts.
INT. WANDERER – BRIDGE
Two of the small screens instantly go to static once more. Fipe is in the process of barking orders.
FIPE
Evasive maneuvers, now! Get us the fuck out of here! And raise the...
Before he can finish, the mysterious ship fires out a continue small thin beam of energy, which cuts through the battleship's plating like butter, going in from one side and exiting out the complete opposite side of the ship, burning anything it touches along the way. It burns right through the middle of the bridge, and the reason Fipe is cut off, is due tot he small laser connecting with his head, causing it to explode in a grisly display of blood, brain matter, and bone, splashing the monitors and techs nearby.
EXT. SPACE – MAR SARA
The mysterious bright ship turns off its mini-laser, only to instantly launch a humongous blast of blue energy, evaporating the Wanderer in seconds.
EXT. TARSONIS – CITY – RACES – DAY
Part of the city, the more rundown of it, has been sectioned off from the rest of the city by floating pylons that are blinking all sorts of colors. There are hundreds of pylons, ever few feet apart, both sideways and up and down.
Two hover cars zoom by the camera, on the inside of this section, racing each other. One car is a futuristic La Nina, while the other is a futuristic sleek Diablo Lamborghini. The Diablo rams sideways into the La Nina, forcing it to dive downwards slightly to avoid hitting a floating video advertisement for a product that can change your skin color. The la Nina aims upwards at an angle and zooms up with even more speed, managing to knick the bottom of the Diablo, sending it spinning end over end, upwards and backwards, allowing the La Nina and it's driver, Harry, to overtake first place.
Following behind and in front of the racing cars are zooming floating metal boxes with large windows. These are where the cheering crowds sit and view the race, and able to stay with it through the large race area.
INT. CROWD BOX
Inside one of these boxes is Jack Sheldon as he cheers on his friend. Danielle walks up the stairs to the top level, where Jack is, and squeezes her way through the other people. This is one of the viewing boxes that remains in front of the racing cars at top speed, and throughout this entire scene, we can see the two cars racing each other in the background through the window.
DANIELLE
Ok, I just placed our bets downstairs.
JACK
Harry's doing great! I have no doubt he'll win this time.
DANIELLE
Better then last time I hope. It's a surprise he walked away from that with the little scratches he managed to walk away with.
JACK
His car wasn't ready then, and he damn well knew it but was too stubborn to pull out of the race. When he has a working car, he rarely gets anything less then third place, and now that him and that Diablo are the only two that's left, I'm sure he'll win.
Jack hasn't turned to look at Danielle at all yet since she returned. Instead, he focused all his attention on the race outside the window. Danielle looks at him in silence for a minute and then grabs his chin and pulls his head towards hers, leaning up and kissing him. He returns the kiss before pulling apart and looking back at the race. Danielle sighs.
DANIELLE
I hate this sneaking around. When are we going to make our relationship public? It's been a month.
JACK
Danielle, you know we can't do that. Relationships between officers are illegal in the military. You know that.
Danielle sighs again.
DANIELLE
Well what about Harry? He's our friend. We should at least tell him.
JACK
If we do get discovered and it becomes known that he knew, he'll get in as much trouble as us. No, we can't do that to him.
Suddenly Jack's pager goes off and he looks down at it. A couple seconds later, Danielle's also goes off.
JACK
It's Brick. We're being called in for an emergency briefing. Come on.
Jack and Danielle rush through the crowd and down to the lower floor and over to the bidding ledge.
JACK
We need off this box immediately. Code 42 Priority.
Jack shows his military ID and the man nods nervously, reaching behind himself and pulling down on a lever. The box instantly changes directions so it's now going down towards the ground, much tot he groans and shouts of anger from the above floor, and slows as it nears the ground.
INT. LA NINA
Harry is now behind again, but only by a fraction of a second. The landscape is nothing but a blur around him as he races. Suddenly his pages goes off and he glances down at it quickly before looking back ahead again.
HARRY
SHIT!
He sighs heavily as he pulls up.
EXT. TRACK - DAY
The La Nina lifts higher into the air as it flips around, and then zooms back the way it came, smashing through a couple of floating pylons to leave the track.
INT. EL SECRO – BRIEFING ROOM
The room is as crowded as it was last time, as the same people sit, listening intently to General Duke brief them. This time Duke speaks with a bit more urgency and grim importance in his voice. During the speech, we cut to various shots of the men and women sitting in the room, including some of Jack, Harry, and Danielle. During it all, Danielle slowly moves her hand to touch the top of Jack's, but he withdraws his.
GENERAL DUKE
We have stopped receiving routine transmissions from A Squad, and all attempts to reestablish communications have been futile. This is it, men. We're sending you all into unknown danger. It is safe to assume that whatever attacked the colonies on Mar Sara has also attacked A Squad and are therefore deemed with the classification of Extremely Hostile. Each Squad will answer to their own separate Squad Leader, who will in turn answer to Sergeant Brick, who is the man standing next to me for those that do not know him. Sergeant Brick will answer directly and solely to me. That is the chain of command for this mission. You will all immediately be dispatched to the Battlecruiser Thunder Child and it will be there, that you will receive your Orders and your Squad Classification. Godspeed, gentlemen. Dismissed.
The room stands at attention until Duke and Brick leave, and then the room erupts with anxious chatter.
EXT. SPACE
The giant battlecruiser Thunder Child, moves through the empty expanse of space.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – GYM
Jack and Danielle are working out in the gym, along with dozens of other people. While they work out, Harry arrives, jumping right into his work out.
JACK
What Squad did you get?
HARRY
D Squad.
JACK
Ah man, that sucks. Me and Danielle both got B Squad. Actually, I think half our unit ended up in B Squad. Maquire, Heart, Jurgenson, Short, and a few others.
HARRY
Brick told me I could have been in B Squad if I wanted to switch and be a Marine, but I only went through the basic three weeks of Marine training before moving on to Firebat training, and it's been a couple years since then. I'm more comfortable staying as a Firebat, and D Squad needs as many of those as it can get.
DANIELLE
Who's your Squad Leader?
HARRY
Some guy named Necris. I've heard he's a real hardass. You?
DANIELLE
Sergeant Brick himself is heading up our squad.
JACK
I've gotta say, I'm relieved. We've served with Brick for years, so it's good to know we don't have to get broken into a new guy.
Corey and a few of his buddies walk by and as they do, they whistle at Danielle as she works out.
COREY
Nice to see a woman that knows how to work it.
DANIELLE
Oh yeah baby, I can work it real good. I like to start with my fingers.
She raises her hand and gives Corey the middle finger.
COREY
Not here, baby-girl, but meet me back in my quarters in an hour. I'll show you what a real work out consists of.
Corey and his buddies laugh as they walk off.
HARRY
Just ignore him. He's just trying to get a rise out of you.
JACK
He'll get a punch in the head soon enough if he doesn't knock that shit off.
HARRY
Ah come on. Corey's not that bad once you get to know him. He's on my tri-ball team and he's actually a pretty decent guy.
DANIELLE
He's a prick.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – MESS HALL
The Mess Hall is crowded and the noise level is high as everyone is munching down on chow. Danielle walks over to Jack and Harry with a tray of food and sits down, laughing.
HARRY
What's so funny?
DANIELLE
I was just talking with Allison and Jeff in the lunch line, and they were telling me about this real new guy in C Squad, straight out of boot camp and still young enough to be in high school. They were telling me stories about him. That guy can't even take two steps without tripping in his own damn feet, how in the Galactics he expects to survive in the military is beyond anyone.
Jack almost chokes on his food, laughing.
JACK
I remember there was a guy like that in my boot camp. Didn't last long though. Broke down crying right in front of everyone when the drill sergeant singled him out and started making fun of him. Put in his resignation the next day and nobody ever heard from him since.
COREY
Sounds like someone else I know, with all the crying.
Jack, Harry, and Danielle turn to see Corey walking by with a tray of food.
HARRY
Corey man, don't.
COREY
Big ol' tears the size of golfballs pouring down little Jacky-boy's face.
HARRY
Cut him some slack, his wife had just been killed in an accident.
COREY
What kind of accident? Her client's dick go so far up inside of her it came out the top of her head?
Corey continues laughing and Jack goes to stand up and punch him, but Danielle puts her hand on his shoulder and holds him down.
DANIELLE
Allow me.
She stands up and punches Corey square in the face. He flies back off his feet and lands on the floor, hard, the contents of his tray of food landing and splashing all over him. The room breaks out in laughter as blood runs freely from his nose.
DANIELLE
While you're in the sick bay, I suggest you ask them to check your head out too.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – HALLWAY
Jack, Danielle, and Harry are walking down a hallway together, passing the occasional person or group of people.
HARRY
Man, that was an awesome Tri-Ball game, we slaughtered them!
DANIELLE
I loved it when you got those three goals in a row in like, 10 seconds, and the other team was just standing there like deer caught in headlights. Haha, it was great. You should have played, Jack.
JACK
Maybe I would have if Corey wasn't playing.
HARRY
He wouldn't have tried anything, Jack. He listens to me when we're playing. I'm the team captain. Plus after the whopping Danielle here gave him the other day, he's scared of her. Hell, people still haven't let him live that down yet.
JACK
Yeah, well I wish it was me he was scared of.
Danielle hangs off of his shoulder and talks in a deep joking voice.
DANIELLE
What, I'm not scary enough for the both of us?
Jack shrugs her off.
JACK
Stop it. That guy's been bustin' my chops for years. I'm just sick of it is all.
They pass a couple others in the hall, who congratulate Harry and Danielle on a good game.
HARRY
So what do you losers want to now? Drill isn't for another hour.
JACK
How's the arcade?
Harry winces.
HARRY
If you can ever find a machine in that room that isn't in-use, at any time, I'll give ya 50 bucks.
DANIELLE
What about the Mess Hall? We can get a good game of Cribbage going.
HARRY
Are you insane? You're like, the Queen of Cribbage.
DANIELLE
What's this? Another person scared of me? Is there anyone on this boat that's not?
JACK
We'll see whose scared come the Dance tomorrow.
DANIELLE
Ohhh-Noooo, that's not fair. You know I can't dance.
Jack and Harry chuckle as the three of them turn the corner.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – MESS HALL
The Mess Hall has been converted into a Dance Hall, with all the tables and chairs removed, leaving a very wide open dance floor, with decorations and streamers set up all over the room, and a glowing strobe light that gives off various colors hanging from the middle of the ceiling. The floor is packed with people dancing happily to the fast-beat tune that's playing.
Danielle is sitting at the bar by herself, drink in hand, as she watches sadly at Jack dance with a blond-haired girl on the floor, the two of them getting a little too close to comfort at times in her opinion.
HARRY
A few drinks in him and he'll dance with practically anyone.
She turns and sees Harry pull up a stool next to her.
DANIELLE
Oh, no, I wasn't watching Jack. I was just watching the dance in general.
HARRY
Come on Danielle, you can't trick me.
She sighs and looks back at Jack dancing, taking a drink.
DANIELLE
I just wish I knew how to dance so that could be me out there with him.
HARRY
I'll teach you, it's easy.
Danielle looks back at him, shocked.
DANIELLE
Oh no, I can't.
HARRY
Come on. How else do you expect to impress Jack on the dance floor more then Allison out there?
Danielle sighs and tries not to smile as Harry leads her by the hand to the thick of the dance floor. Harry starts dancing.
HARRY
Just move your body to the rhythm of the music. Feel the music. Your body will guide you.
Danielle rolls her eyes and starts dancing, but is far from giving it her all.
DANIELLE
I feel like an idiot.
HARRY
Relax. Everyone else out here is dancing to their own groove, and just between me and you, every single person here keeps glancing at everyone else to see how they're supposed to be dancing, you're doing great.
Danielle starts to loosen up a bit, but then the song ends and a slow song starts to fade in.
HARRY
Do you know how to slow dance?
Danielle gives him a 'what do you think' look.
DANIELLE
First-Graders know how to slow dance.
JACK
Good, then can I have this dance?
Danielle whips around, shocked, seeing Jack standing there. She's flustered, she looks back at Harry, who just slowly nods and winks at her. He walks by Jack, patting him on the shoulder.
HARRY
This dancing queen is all yours, lover boy.
Jack looks at him as he walks away and then back at Danielle as they move together and begin slow dancing.
JACK
What did he mean by that?
DANIELLE
Jack, he knows. About us.
JACK
What? How? You told him?
DANIELLE
Relax, will you? He figured it out on his own. We're around him enough, and he's not an idiot.
JACK
But we pretty much stopped our flirting.
DANIELLE
It's more then just flirting, Jack. He's noticed the way we look at each other.
Jack smiles.
JACK
You mean like this?
Jack looks longingly into her eyes, and she returns the look.
DANIELLE
And like this...
She moves her mouth up and kisses Jack passionately. Everyone else is so involved in their own dancing that no one notices.
JACK
How about we get out of here and go back to my quarters?
Danielle nods and Jack leads her off the dance floor by the hand. Harry is sitting at the bar, taking a drink, when he sees Jack and Danielle leave, holding hands. He chuckles to himself and takes another drink.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – JACK'S QUARTER'S
Jack instantly opens his eyes and sits straight up to hear klaxons blaring and a red alarm light flashing throughout his room. He looks around at the other bunks in his quarters, but they're all empty. He jumps out of bed and rushes out into the hall, still in his boxers, and runs into the crowd of soldiers rushing down the hall.
JACK
Hey! What's going on?
RANDOM SOLDIER
We're getting ready to land! We've arrived!
Jack stops on the spot, everyone else rushing past him.
JACK
Holy shit...
He turns and runs back into his quarters to get ready as quickly as he can.
INT. THUNDER CHILD – DOCKING BAY
Jack rushes into the docking bay with a few other people, now fully dressed and suited up in his gear. All the soldiers in the room stand in perfect lines, forming a giant square of human bodies. There are two kinds of people in the room – The Marines, who are in large hulking suits of heavy armor, with a retraceable faceplate that can lower in front of their face from their headpiece, and two lights located on top of the right shoulders, and two other lights located on the ribcage area. The other kind of people are the Firebats – who are in similar heat-resistant red suits, with thick circular flamethrowers located on the side of each arm, and a tank of propane attached to their backs. Among all these people, but standing off to the side of the room, are also a small handful of techs.
Jack pushes his way through the crowd and positions himself next to Danielle, who is also in a Marine suit like Jack, and Harry, who is in a Firebat suit. They look at him for a second when he first arrives, but look back ahead again, as Sergeant Brick walks back and forth in front of the platoon of people.
BRICK
This is it, men! We have reached Mar Sara! We will be deploying at Colony MS-001! When we land, I want B Squad with me to secure the interior of the colony; C Squad, you will be securing the perimeter, and D Squad will have the privilege of securing up to five miles in all directions of the colony! Report any and all contact. Tech Squad, with a Marine escort, you will make your way into the Command Center to get communications up and running and to re-establish contact with Tarsonis. Your guard will be made up of selected men from my squad. Ok Troopers, load up!
The soldiers begin rushing into the dropships that are in the docking bay, with docking bay personnel shouting at the soldiers to move, move move, and to shout out which squads go in which shuttles. Jack, Danielle, and Harry turn to each other, Jack and Harry putting a hand on each others shoulders.
JACK
Take care of yourself down there.
HARRY
You guys too. See you back up here again in no time.
Jack nods and he and Danielle turn away from Harry, as he turns away from them, and they head to their own designated shuttles.
3/1/2008 5:00:11 AM
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