Stargate Universe grand finale. An homage, as well as an attempt to give a proper ending to SGU, the last of the franchise (for the time being)
Comments, suggestions welcome! ^_^
* SPACE. DESTINY IN FTL. Ancient, battered, extremely far from home, miraculously still going on: the Flying Dutchman of astrophysics.
RUSH
(Off Screen)
This ship was launched to solve a mystery,
# DESTINY. Empty dark cold ship. Scattered telltales of recent habitation. Nothing living in view, (not even at the old hydroponics lab!?). No lights or energy, (except for a FEW automated systems). No sounds. Most doors are CLOSED. NO air currents (evidenced by serenely floating bits of dust, or LIMP strings attached to vents, grilles, ducts). No life support at all. LOW temperature shows in bits of frozen water vapor, particularly on polished surfaces and glass.
Ginn and I figured out how to dial the 9th chevron back to Earth while Destiny recharges in a star.
View other deserted CORRIDORS and SPACES, until:
# DESTINY. STASIS CORRIDORS AND PODS. A few familiar faces, all FROZEN like the day they were sealed in. All systems nominal. (If there's "heartrate" indicators, they'd stir once every few [+] minutes).
CREDITS / RECAPS
Focus BRODY.
ELI (O.S.)
[+] your metabolism shuts down.
A FLOATING KINO wanders by.
KINO FLASHBACK:
* PLANET NOVUS. DAY.
Time-gated ELI
We could've gone back in time, or - or forward, days, months, years--
END FLASHBACK
Focus SCOTT.
NOVAN YOUNGSTER (O.S.)
You're the Ancestors...
CHLOE.
NOVAN ELDER (O.S.)
"It is easier to know where you are going when you know where you have been." [+]
T.J..
NOVAN ELDER (O.S.)
The disease you carry, we have a cure.
GREER.
ELI (O.S.)
Those people are our descendants.
PARK.
ELI (O.S.)
[+] this could be the coolest thing ever?
VOLKER.
ELI (O.S.)
They pooled their resources and they built ships. Huge, huge ships.
VARRO.
ELI (O.S.)
Not capable of FTL, but big enough to evacuate the rest of the population.
JAMES.
ELI (O.S.)
[+] we dialed Pittsburgh.
FLASHBACK:
# * PITTSBURGH WAREHOUSE. NIGHT (cloudy). Old newspaper with headline: Terminus Tymes Atak!!
Nearby: COMMAND SHIP & attendant DRONES.
END FLASHBACK
WRAY.
ELI (O.S.)
A mechanical army of drones programmed to seek out and destroy all technology foreign to them.
# DESTINY. 'LAST' STASIS CORRIDOR. CLOSE UPS.
RUSH's relaxed FACE.
YOUNG (O.S.)
They've blockaded the stars from which Destiny recharges.
RUSH (O.S.)
[+] they're waiting at every Gate between here and the edge of the galaxy.
YOUNG.
ELI (O.S.)
One continuous FTL Jump, out and around the length of this galaxy, across the gap to the next one,
ON TO: ELI's sleeping FACE, enclosed in an Ancient EVA suit helmet.
ZOoM OUT:
He's fully SUITED inside his Pod, his EVA suit patched with some CABLING to side panels. The Pod's outside shows also signs of MANIPULATION.
ELI (O.S.)
What's the point of having potential if you're not going to step up when you're really needed?
FLASHBACK:
# DESTINY. OBSERVATION DECK. ELI smiling.
Eli's MOM (O.S.)
If you had made different choices, you wouldn't have seen the incredible sights you've seen, done the amazing things you've done.
END FLASHBACK
Just like that, ELI's pod DEACTIVATES, OPENS. His face hardens a bit as his eyes FOCUS. His breath forms tiny vapor cloudlets.
HIS Point Of View: The opposite side of the corridor, where a big handwritten SIGN reads: KEEP
TRYING!
# DESTINY. CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM. DARK. A lone SCREEN is ON. Lots of diverse data SCROLL fast.
# 'LAST' STASIS CORRIDOR.
ELI
(sighs)
It was worth the try.
(Clumsily?) EXITS the pod. His BREATHING sounds calm. He reaches for the suit helmet, presses lightly. It CHIMES soft negative. Again.
ELI
(disappointed)
Okay, no life support. Poison air.
(steels himself)
I can do this.
Fully suited, he walks away from the "dud" pod while checking his wrist-mount PAD/REMOTE for info.
# DESTINY. CORRIDORS. Weak lighting discreetly springs to life at a few places.
BACK TO:
Arm raised, happy:
ELI
Hey! It worked!? Whoohoo!
(turns 'round)
It worked!! Yay Dr. Park!
(stops turning, eyes his surroundings)
Right. Looney.
His wrist-PAD/Remote blinks/chimes for attention.
ELI
(frowns)
What the...?
* DESTINY DROPS FROM FTL. In the middle of nowhere. Various DAMAGE plainly visible.
# CORRIDORS. ELI dashes (as if chased) for the nearest Console. The corridor stretches ahead of him.
ELI
(alarmed)
No, no, no, nonononono!!!
His BREATHING's heavy. His footsteps ECHO (distortedly) along deserted CORRIDORS & SPACES.
# GATE ROOM. The RING is ACTIVE & SPINNING with a familiar WHINE.
# CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM. CONSOLE fills quickly with diverse reports. Eli's SUITED FINGERS keying.
ELI
(aghast, breathing FAST)
Hell!
# GATE ROOM. The RING LOCKS. The VORTEX WHOOSHES.
# CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM. Eli's SUITED FINGERS freeze as he watches the PUDDLE stabilizing, its eerie light DANCING around the poorly lit Gateroom.
ELI glances around, at the other empty Consoles. Nope, still alone.
His SCREEN:
A non-Ancient-made KINO exits the PUDDLE.
ELI
You must be kidding me!?
Shortly afterwards, 4 unknown people FOLLOW: they carry (night-vision) GOGGLES, simple breathing masks, WEAPONS at the ready, backpacks, assorted military GEAR & battle-worn almost-familiar-looking UNIFORMS.
Eli's SUITED FINGER poised to click a Console ALERT: Vent room's atmosphere, Y/N?
ELI
(looks closer. Squints?)
I know that flag...!?
# GATE ROOM. GATE DEACTIVATES. The COUNTDOWN CLOCK ACTIVATES: 7 hours till FTL resumes.
The newcomers FAN OUT a bit, otherwise seem content to just stare around. 1 of them FALLS to his knees, in prayer-like gesture. 2 others (loudly) CHEER each other. The FORWARD MAN (middle-aged, familiar-faced, war-scarred) eyes the deserted nearest CONSOLE.
As he starts ADVANCING towards it:
ELI (O.S, comms, annoyed?)
Who are you, people? What are you doing here? How have you even gotten onboard?
The 4 FREEZE, look around.
FORWARD MAN
(military stance, an aged/worn version of Eli)
I'm Captain Wallace, of the Novan Militia.
HIS POV: slightly distorted/false-colored/infrared ARTIFICIAL VISION GATE ROOM + NOVANS.
CAPTAIN WALLACE
(gestures)
These are my team. We're looking for Destiny and our wise Ancestors. We need your help. Direly.
# DESTINY'S SHUTTLE. SEALED. ELI GASPS awake.
All around him: clothing, food wrappers & supplies, tools, lots of paper scraps, several kinos lying around, the Ancient Comm "stones", 1 Ancient EVA suit...
WRITINGS (with chalk?) on available wall surfaces:
Where's the Novans? And their weapons?
Are there any other advanced aliens left?
What could we learn from the drones'
creators? What were they thinking!?
What happens to this galaxy if
the drones crush everybody else?
Is it our fault?
Laptop SCREEN: (switching) kino FOOTAGE of DESTINY's unexplored areas, hull BREACHES, et al. With COORDINATES footers, "LOW BATTERY" icons, plenty of "snow" feeds...
To the kino in his hand:
ELI
To go or not to go: that is the question!
He walks out.
Some paper SCRAPS:
Turns out you can get tired of listening
to all the music this player can hold!
What if a small seed snuck into a corner and
grew, and mutated and took over the ship? How
far could it spread in 3 years? And in 30? 300?
Rush, McKay, or Carter? I'd rather
be Samantha Carter... Or, maybe not!
Maybe asking Earth for help on this
was a waste of time. They just want
the tourist experience while there's
a chance. In the next galaxy we'll
sell tickets. Now that's an idea!
WwBd? What would Brody do?
When has anything gone according to plan??
The problem contains the solution?
Who the hell said that?
NOW WHAT!?!?
Damn the Ancients! Wish I could go back
to the start, but then... Ginn, oh GiNN!
ELI opens the SHUTTLE's DOOR.
On the opposite side of the CORRIDOR, a big (handwritten, with chalk?) SIGN: 6 DAYS
TO GO
He erases parts of the 6, rewrites it as a 5.
# DESTINY. Some weak air currents (evidenced by swirling bits of dust, or strings attached to vents, grilles, ducts). Minimal light. Life support all but OFF. Low temperature shows ...
FOLLOW ELI along more deserted CORRIDORS, until we reach:
# STASIS 'HALLS' AND PODS. Familiar FACES.
# 'LAST' STASIS CORRIDOR. RUSH's relaxed face. YOUNG's. The empty 'dud' pod, with signs of MANIPULATION, a few PARTS, CABLING & TOOLS strewn around the floor.
ELI (sotto, to Young's pod)
I'm sorry...
He CRUMPLES a big handwritten SIGN that read(s): KEEP
TRYING!
It FALLS at his feet as he leaves.
* DESTINY DROPS FROM FTL. A red dwarf star with a couple GAS GIANTS (1 of them RINGED) + an ASTEROID FIELD can be just barely discerned in the DISTANCE.
# GATE ROOM. Poor light. ELI arrives with a half-full backpack, checks the COUNTDOWN CLOCK: about 2 hours till FTL resumes.
LATER:
COUNTDOWN CLOCK shows less than 1 hour left. ELI's added some heavier (military?) clothing, cans, a pistol, etc. to the backpack. Keys the Console at leisure.
His LAPTOP screen: Remote Power Operation
READY
A kino HOVERS around.
On the other Console, a SCRAP of paper with a message:
No point trying to fix that thing
anymore. I'm no engineer. Gonna
find some Novan colony to join. Or
someone with the tech to help us.
Good luck!
Yours, (XXXXXed out?) Eli.
LATER:
COUNTDOWN CLOCK (15) minutes away from the RED ZONE. ELI POWERS UP 1-2 more kinos.
He carefully fishes out a small SQUARE of paper from an inner pocket: a ballpen-sketched PORTRAIT of Ginn.
He turns it around. On the back, the artist scribbled the words:
Life's
true
treasure.
C. W.
Sad, ELI pockets Ginn's portrait, takes the BACKPACK, keys the Console one last time:
The RING ACTIVATES, STARTS SPINNING.
* ALIEN BARREN PLANET. NOON. Lots of erosion, no hint of water or life anywhere. ACTIVE GATE. Out of the PUDDLE exits a kino, moments later ELI (+ 2-3 more).
GATE DEACTIVATES.
He looks around, checks his REMOTE: There's several Gate ADDRESSES + Destiny's.
Destiny's address VANISHES.
ELI
(calm?)
Circle closes! Good speed, my friends.
(keying/reviewing)
Let's race this gauntlet.
At his COMMAND, the RING ACTIVATES.
* ANOTHER ALIEN PLANET. NIGHT. ACTIVE GATE. ELI + his kinos GATE IN. Gate closes.
Brief review of Remote, they GATE OUT.
* SEVERAL MORE ALIEN PLANETS & MOONS of all (habitable) kinds. ELI generally gates OUT shortly after gating IN, unless there's some food or water he can easily grab, or perhaps interesting VISTAS. At times, he avoids/flees dangerous ANIMALS (or DRONES!?).
* Somewhere with an ICE moon. DUSK (snowing). ELI Gates IN, sweating in light clothes, a JACKET draped on his head, SUNGLASSES, a SHIRT tied around his waist.
SHIVERING in the chill, taking off the glasses:
ELI
Man, I love Gating!
He quickly dons the shirt, unwraps the jacket, dons it.
* Rainy SAVANNAH. DAY. Soaked yet calm, ELI refills his canteen with rainwater, eyes a frilled-lizard-like creature enjoying the shower.
Nearby, a powerful LIGHTNING bolt BURSTS a big tree to a million SPLINTERS. The deafening THUNDERCLAP shakes everything!
* Days and planets later:
He sports unshaven STUBBLE, reviews data / map / Gate Addresses on REMOTE.
ELI (smiling, to kinos)
We're getting somewhere!
* ROCKY ALIEN PLANET. DAWN. ELI + his kinos GATE IN. A dirt ROAD snakes away into the nearby FOREST. Gate CLOSES.
Dark smoke CLOUDS billow beyond the trees. High overhead, a DRONE starts TURNING.
ELI
Hot damn!
The drone SWOOPS IN.
DRONE POV:
Tactical H.U.D-like (false-colors?). MARK/Outline the Ring.
Using REMOTE to DIAL:
ELI
C'mon!
TARGET HIM.
BACK TO:
The drone nears the (spinning/locking) Ring, starts STRAFING. A 2nd drone appears in the distance.
VORTEX WHOOSHES. PUDDLE stabilizes. The 1st drone banks/turns to more-or-less ALIGN with the ramp while DESCENDING.
DRONE POV:
ELI runs ramp up. SHOOT after him (some BLASTS enter the PUDDLE).
Almost ON TOP of him!
ELI + his kinos rush THRU the Puddle!
BACK TO:
The Puddle's UNSTABLE & DISTORTED/FLICKERING in a FAMILIAR MANNER.
The 1st drone FLIES INTO it.
S * G * U
STARGATE (@) UNIVERSE .
-+- Part 1: LEFT BEHIND -+-
# ALIEN COLOSSAL (man-enhanced?) CAVERNS. MORNING. Plenty of light. ACTIVE Gate (dwarfed) to one end, with no RAMP, inclined backwards against a front-planted vehicle/BUS. OUT of its FLICKERING PUDDLE exit ELI & his kinos.
He stumbles/FALLS into a deep(er than his height) and wide(r than Ring's width, barely) WATERPOOL with only waist-deep (stale) water left.
The DRONE exits the PUDDLE, FLIES over him, apparently inert(ial), CRASHES beyond the EDGE of the waterpool (O.S. explosion?).
Catching view of the DISTORTED PUDDLE just before the GATE DEACTIVATES:
ELI
(worried)
Aw, crap!
The RING's (unstably) perched on a raised PLATFORM (damaged, hinged/crumbly?). Behind it, the floor of the waterpool rises into a (shallow?) circular TRENCH with an interior DISK of hardest stone [+].
A BUNCH of dangerous-looking alien "fishes" FLOAT UP to the water surface, all around ELI. He fears the worst, but they're DEAD.
ELI CLIMBS the bus out of the pool, WALKS up the slightly depressed and crater-like walled GARDEN (dilapidated, w/plenty dry LEAVES) surrounding it.
Ahead of him, near the 'crater' RIM: the crashed (burning?) DRONE, several (destroyed) Anti-Aircraft BATTERIES, 1 of them with a 2-4-month-dead SOLDIER nearby.
FINALLY, he sees:
Novus-style RUINS of an entire underground CITY, large, technologically advanced. The huge interconnected CAVES house (big) buildings, public spaces, (drying) water courses, (dying) tall trees and other (yellowing/browning) greenery, factories, machinery and DEFENSE SYSTEMS, warehouses, a University campus, even an Olympic stadium, all with signs of FIERY BATTLE, bathed in HARSH/STRONG sunlight streaming in from MANY SIZABLE recent HOLES in the thick rock ceiling.
# * EMPTY NOVAN CITY. NOON. ELI approaches one of the big HOLES. Sunlight is super-strength now, he shields his eyes with one hand. At his feet, a fair-sized CRATER, blasted by whatever heavy weapon opened the HOLE thru the (massive) mountains above.
He THROWS in a scrap of paper he picked up earlier. As it FLOATS inside the shaft of light, it catches fire and BURNS.
LATER:
Navigating rubble, wary of unknown dangers, avoiding fallen house-sized BOULDERS and spots/craters with TOO BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, he sees more CORPSES (some in big groups, civilians and military, others with advanced body ARMOR and/or WEAPONS at hand) and varied DRONE WRECKAGE.
ELI (sotto?)
Crap! Crap! Crap!
LATER:
LATE AFTERNOON. SUNLIGHT no longer so dangerous. ELI walks briskly around the streets, reaches a large (damaged) BUILDING with magnificent doors (ajar, scorched by enemy FIRE) and big lettering announcing: NOCTIS UNIVERSITY (+Latin motto half-blasted away)
Atop a smaller side entrance (door gone, darkened), more modest lettering points to: Registry.
ARCHIVES
ELI
At last!
MAN (O.S. from Archives)
Eli Wallace!? Amazing!
# UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES. DUSK (minimal if any artificial lighting). As he enters, ELI & his kino(s) face a disheveled / rag-tag middle-age short-bearded MAN with sun-blocking (open) 'safety' GOGGLES and a very worn military 'camo' JACKET. A somewhat larger/cruder version of a kino (silver-steel) hovers around.
MAN
(gestures)
Name's Freeman. Welcome to Noctis! The last Novan city!
He turns away. Eli steps after him.
ELI
Wait! You know about me? The Ancestors? Destiny?
FREEMAN
(grim)
Destiny vanished from this galaxy more than 40 years ago, just as the Drone War started.
ELI's STUNNED.
LATER:
NIGHT. Corner with minimal (neo-kino-powered) artificial light, a few (neo-kino-powered) COMPUTER/PAD SCREENS still working. ELI and FREEMAN seated, animatedly talking.
NEO-KINO FOOTAGE OF:
# * NOCTIS. In all its former glory, full of people like ants, bathed in artificial/filtered sunlight streaming in from huge SKYLIGHTS in the rock ceiling...
SWITCH TO:
* Variously-located Novan COLONIES (smaller?) and GATES. Different kinds of trade CARAVANS, some with people on foot or pack animals, others with wheeled VEHICLES, another using kino-sled-like floating pallets, Gating IN or OUT. A couple times, LOW-ORBIT/ATMOSPHERIC FIGHTERS (small) flying overhead.
BACK TO:
ELI browses an OLD (Colonial Era) BROCHURE: NOCTIS PRIMER
For new arrivals (sponsored by Noctis' Chamber of Commerce) with planet STATS/CHARTS, brief history:
- Low seismicity: No volcanic activity. Weak magnetic field.
- Thin atmosphere: low oxygen, CO2, or water vapor. g = 93% std.
- Daytime: lethal solar radiation. Nighttime: auroras envelop 79% planet.
- Summer: 68% year. Winter: freezing cold. 1 yr = 0.87 std.
- Lifezone: caves (enclosed). Cities: 1.
- Political status: unofficial, unaligned.
- Trade: heavy machinery, power systems, computers.
NEO-KINO FOOTAGE OF:
* SEVERAL different PLANETS and OUTPOSTS/TOWNS/CITIES: Caravans and buildings under attack. AA Batteries (bullets, LASERS) fire non-stop. Civilians (+ military) flee thru a GATE. Large FIRES, smoke, attacking DRONES seen in the distance.
SWITCH TO:
* SPACE. Planet NOCTIS. Desert-looking, mountainous. Drones swarm the upper atmosphere, get HIT by scores of unseen surface-based LIGHT ARTILLERY/BEAMS (relatively thin), with the 10s remaining DOWNED by 100+ Novus-style beam- and bullet-spewing one-seater FIGHTERS, which then proceed to SWARM the drone Command Ship, BLOWING it up.
* SPACE. Battle site. DEBRIS of Novus' evac ships & their light armament, plenty of frozen BODIES, many destroyed DRONES. An ALERT WINDOW: ID positive: Novus evacuation fleet.
Estimated death toll: 95+ million
Footer TIMECODES, including: Drone War. Year 26 and Deep Space Probe 19
FREEMAN (O.S.?)
A sizable portion of all Novan population gone overnight. The unity and hope they symbolized, crushed. It was a heavy blow.
NEO-KINO FOOTAGE OF:
# NOCTIS LAB/WAREHOUSE. Command Ship DEBRIS (plentiful) under STUDY. Scientists/engineers/military (FREEMAN among them?) hotly argue around several WHITEBOARDS overflowing with all kinds of GRAPHS.
SWITCH TO:
* SPACE. Planet NOCTIS. From farther away. 6 larger heavily weaponized "Command Ships" (the OMEGAS) have JUMPED IN. Their swarms of drones BLOCK surface-based BEAMS trying to reach them, interlock in DOGFIGHT with Noctis' Fighters while the Omegas POWER UP their heavy weaponry.
As the fighters (and surface beams) start HITTING the Omegas (destroying 1), they FIRE (repeatedly), causing large EXPLOSIONS on the planet surface.
Caption: Fifth SIEGE
More FOOTAGE OF:
# * NOCTIS LAB/WAREHOUSE. LATER. Outside explosions heard. Everything SHAKES. The scientists/engineers/military all hurry to exits amid falling DEBRIS. Chaos. Video FLICKERS. Glimpsed thru windows/doors: Noctis under attack. More CHAOS.
FREEMAN (O.S.?)
1 by 1 our friends and partners fell. In the end, Noctis stood alone. Our defenses couldn't stop 'em: Of nearly 5 million inhabitants, less than 5000 managed to flee.
# UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES. NEXT DAY (seen thru broken windows/walls/ceiling). ELI shaving, FREEMAN talking, but mainly:
ELI (always with a kino nearby) reviews computer ARCHIVES (Noctis Central DB).
As hours PASS:
ONSCREEN(s): many different documents:
THE DRONE WAR
a Blow by Blow account (places, dates)
ANATOMY OF Berzerker DRONES
and other enemy ships (OMEGAS section IN PROGRESS)
BRIEF RECAP OF FTL ADVANCES
Plans for the future. (prototypes too small & unfinished to be of use in the war)
POPULAR MECHANICS:
DIY neo-kino!
(parts not included) (Sponsored by the Noctis branch of the Institute of NanoElectroMechanical Engineers)
A kids EBOOK (among others, browsed fast, not read): The Mighty Rog and their
Flying Cities of Gold with idealized drawings of a long-haired SAURIAN female armed to the teeth & an asteroid CITY.
# * NOCTIS. NEXT MORNING. Not far from UNIVERSITY Campus. ELI and FREEMAN (both with GOGGLES and sun-blocking headgear, out looking for supplies, books, tools...) RUNNING for cover. Drones STRAFE around.
FREEMAN uses a neo-kino as DECOY. It's fired upon, but evades & survives, barely.
They take refuge in a half-destroyed building.
Both panting:
FREEMAN
Oxygen's getting too low. Soon as the last plants die, the place will become uninhabitable, with or without drones.
ELI
I cannot stay! Gotta try something!
LATER:
NIGHT. Massive AURORAS glimpsed thru ceiling (deep) holes. ACTIVE GATE. A makeshift/temp bridge/RAMP. ELI (knife + pistol on his belt, military ARMOR pieces, breathing mask et al) ready to depart, with full backpack, laptop + hovering kinos. FREEMAN with a SACK of NEO-KINOS + other supplies, similarly ready.
They drop/throw stuff THRU the (normal) PUDDLE.
FREEMAN (sotto)
Hurry!
As 2-3 DRONES approach them, STRAFING, both jump into the PUDDLE.
* ALIEN WOODLANDS PLANET. NOON. GRASSLANDS near WOODS. ACTIVE GATE. Behind their stuff, ELI and FREEMAN GATE IN.
GATE DEACTIVATES.
10+ motley PEOPLE (disheveled like Freeman) armed with WEAPONS primitive (drawn bows, axes, spears) & modern (drawn pistols, bowie-knifes, 1 small raygun/blaster), APPEAR from behind the trees/bushes.
FREEMAN greets them.
* 'Last Refuge' PLANET. DUSK. A clearing in the woods, not too far from the RING. Glimpses of a makeshift (flimsy) CAMP. Around a big CAMPFIRE, FREEMAN and ELI explain the idea to the others, using his laptop (+ GRAPHS drawn on ground?).
ONSCREEN: Noctis archives:
SOLAR FLARE CHRONOLOGY
(300 years of route disruptions) (+maps)
FREEMAN (O.S.?)
We can only guess where or when more flares will appear, or for how long, if they'll affect the routes we know of, or others, or if anyone will reach them in time.
CUT TO:
* HABITABLE MOON near GAS GIANT. LATE AFTERNOON (stars visible). A neo-kino EXITS an ACTIVE Gate (Puddle DISTORTED, FLICKERING), rotates slowly, up and down, RECORDING, then flies away to some bushes, falls amid them, SHUTS DOWN.
ELI (O.S.)
But we can look for the kinos!
BACK TO:
ELI
The only sure thing we know, if we are to one day succeed, there'll be a kino, somewhere, sent from the future,
CUT TO:
* Unknown ALIEN PLANET. DAY. Not far from a Gate, a hand RETRIEVES a dusty neo-kino from under a rocky LEDGE.
FREEMAN (O.S.)
... having waited months, years or decades to tell us when and where a suitable wormhole can be found.
BACK TO:
The former members of a highly advanced civilization, reduced to tattered hunter-gatherers and scavengers, eye each other, PONDERING.
FREEMAN
The old laws and taboos don't apply anymore.
ELI
(re: flare EPHEMERIS)
After the 1st Jump, the rest will be easy.
LATER:
DAWN. CAMPFIRE is just ashes. 20+ PEOPLE, loaded with survival GEAR, readying to travel.
WOMAN ELDER
(white-haired, wiry, sun-tanned)
I spent half my life hunting for vanished civilizations, Novan and alien, looking for clues about their life and their fight against the drone horde.
(as ELI DIALS)
I've spent the other half teaching my own people to survive without the most basic tools and comforts of civilization. This, at least, is hope that not all will be lost!
One after another they GATE OUT.
With just a few of them still to go, a(n improved) DRONE SWOOPS IN from afar, STRAFING. The owner of the raygun/blaster SHOOTS at it 2-3 times before entering the PUDDLE. The drone easily EVADES, keeps closing.
FREEMAN, the last to hurriedly go, shows it 'the finger' before gating OUT.
Gate DEACTIVATES. The drone flies around and AWAY.
* MANY MORE (briefly) ALIEN PLANETS of all kinds, in all lights/weathers. People (alone or in pairs) GATING IN and/or OUT, looking for kinos and (summarily) checking Gate CIRCUITRY. Once or twice, quickly DIALING to get an UNSTABLE/DISTORTED PUDDLE, sending a kino thru it. A few times seen FLEEING or FIGHTING (perhaps with an electric baton/staff) dangerous animals or DRONES.
Somewhere: FREEMAN coaches ELI on gun use.
* LUSH JUNGLE PLANET. DAY. SOUNDS of many small and big denizens.
2 people BURST from the thick green/purple/red/blue/yellow FOLIAGE surrounding an inactive RING's platform, at a dead run & shouting; after them CHARGES a giant ground-shaking RHINOCEROS-like plant-eater (with small tentacles instead of lips, garishly-colored skin for blending in) complete with a good-sized tail-tip spiky MACE.
Each runner JUMPS the obstacles on opposite sides of the Ring. The alien RHINO loudly SMACKS the platform, TRUMPETS irritation.
* CAMPSITE SOMEWHERE. DUSK. ELI (unshaven beard) with FREEMAN + others EXAMINE 4-5 AGED neo-kinos, perhaps 1-2 months since the plan was set in motion.
Reviewing STARFIELDS & THEIR DATES on laptop:
ELI
Gotcha!
* ALIEN DESERT PLANET. DAWN. 8-10 people (including ELI and FREEMAN) gate OUT thru a DISTORTED puddle, while as many others wave them good-bye. ELI looks back.
FREEMAN
They chose to return with their families. And someone has to keep looking for the flares and sending back the kinos.
ELI
(unhappy?)
No shortcuts. Too important. I get it.
* ALIEN SAVANNAH PLANET. NOON. Very open terrain, with bushes, tall grass, small rivers. FREEMAN, ELI + their stuff ready to gate OUT. It is so hot they've both divested their heavier clothing (incl. Freeman's 'camo' JACKET).
NEARBY: Old rusty WRECKAGE mixed with elongated charred BONES, half-covered in grass + small(ish) bushes.
A rock OUTCROPPING, surrounded by trees, in the distance. Small DOTS glimpsed flying HIGH in the clear sky.
Eli readies a neo-kino (only 1 other in the sack). FREEMAN activates the RING.
ELI
We're almost out of kinos. Luckily it's the last Jump!
Ring LOCKS.
FREEMAN
(half-smile)
If my brother lived, he'd be all "Oohh, Destiny! Oohh, the Ancestors!"
VORTEX WHOOSHES.
Puddle's NORMAL.
ELI
(checks REMOTE)
Hhmm. There's a noise in this Gate's readings.
Puddle becomes DISTORTED.
FREEMAN
You mean, besides the wormhole disruption tearing at the fabric of spacetime?
ELI
(reviews REMOTE)
It's not random. Could be a code.
Kino ENTERS puddle.
FREEMAN
(peeks)
Perhaps a message? I've seen the Gate Network used for...
Suddenly, a big Pterodactyl-like PREDATOR surges from behind the PUDDLE's blind area, SWOOPS down on them, SCREECHING!
Drawing out a big HUNTING KNIFE:
FREEMAN
Watch OUT!
As he pushes ELI out of harm's way, the flying predator ATTACKS FREEMAN, trying to GRAB him with big CLAWS, INJURES & LIFTS him away towards the rock OUTCROPPING, pursued by ELI (pistol in hand).
FREEMAN SLASHES high with his knife, the predator SHRIEKS in pain, DROPS him a fair distance from the Ring, TURNS around to attack him again.
ELI SHOOTS all his bullets as the beast CRASHES DOWN, shrieking, flapping, trashing.
ELI SMASHES its head with a good-sized BLACK STONE.
As he checks a heavily breathing & bleeding FREEMAN, ELI eyes the GATE:
The Puddle FLICKERS UNSTABLY.
ELI, torn, stands, turns to FREEMAN, starts (carefully) dragging him back to the ramp.
Gate DEACTIVATES.
ELI
(furious)
No! Noo!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!
FREEMAN
(dying breath)
You'll... make it! Change... this galaxy's... future. Leave... a lasting legacy... behind, not just... ruins and death.
His arm/hand more-or-less point to the STONE Eli dropped nearby. ELI stares at it. (Stone POV)
Shaken, ELI picks his REMOTE from the ground, keys a SUMMONS command. The last kino FLOATS out of its sack, APPROACHES swiftly.
The Remote CHIMES softly, shows 2 BLINKING DOTS: 1 CLOSING, the other STILL, almost out of range, near the OUTCROPPING.
ELI
What the...
As the kino reaches him, he turns towards the OUTCROPPING, keys the SUMMONS again. Nothing from there. Eyes the flying dots, FROWNS at the mystery DOT on his screen.
CUT To: ELI drags Freeman's body to nearby bushes, hides it with the camo JACKET + some branches.
LATER: ELI, holding a sizable branch cut into a crude SPEAR, stares up at the tall TREES around the outcropping. The RING far behind him.
ELI
Hell-oh.
There's an old/aged KINO wedged among the high branches, partly covered in what looks like mud/bird droppings. He THROWS a stone at the tree. No effect.
His kino wanders by.
KINO FEED:
Approaching the top of the trees, NEAR enough to get a good view of the unresponsive old kino. CLOSE FAST, from slightly below. BONNKK! BLACKOUT.
SWITCH TO:
ELI
(kino recording, glitchy)
...star's a frequent-flarer, hence the hot...
(fastforward)
...don't care if it disrupts the timeline, the priority's keeping Freeman from...
(rewind)
...hide this kino where no drone will find...
(fastforward)
...tweaked the Gate circuitry to send a warn...
BACK TO:
Eli's LAPTOP showing kino footage.
ELI
(grim)
Damn it.
LATER:
DUSK. The pseudo-Pterodactyl has been roasted in a CAMP FIRE, half is still SMOKING lightly over it.
ELI digs a GRAVE.
2-3 Weeks LATER:
DAWN. Small alien FLOWERS have grown all over Freeman's GRAVE. BONES from several pseudo-Pterodactyls on a PILE next to the barely burning campfire. ELI, dirtier, checks his flares EPHEMERIS on laptop.
A bit LATER:
MORNING. Spear MKII in hand, Freeman's jacket ON, he ACTIVATES the Ring.
SHORTLY: The PUDDLE's UNSTABLE/DISTORTED. ELI jogs up the ramp with all his stuff, kino FLOATING ahead.
* 'Pterodactyl' PLANET. MID-AFTERNOON. ELI EXITS the DISTORTED PUDDLE, which quickly CLOSES. There's no GRAVE nor piles of bones, nor WRECKAGE.
As he's checking the REMOTE, a DRONE swoops on him, BLASTING. He DIVES behind the ramp, FIRES BACK.
Suddenly, a Pterodactyl-like PREDATOR SWOOPS on the DRONE, DAMAGES it, is INJURED by it, finally makes it CRASH on the ground.
ELI watches both of 'em BURN, realizing they'll become the FUTURE WRECKAGE & BONES.
LATER:
A familiar-looking BLACK STONE amid trampled grass. A MESSAGE freshly scratched on it: BEwAR Th BiRDs.TAStE LIk cHIkN
ELI DIALS. Kino follows.
His POV:
Gate travel (normal).
* BEAUTIFUL ALIEN PLANET. MID-MORNING.
Kneeling before Ginn's (recent) TOMB:
ELI
(sobs)
Why...? Why...? Why...? Why...?
* FAMILIAR BARREN PLANET. DAWN. ELI, spear in hand, navigates the complex terrain towards some CIRCLING 'carrion birds' until:
HIS POV:
Simeon's freshly picked BONES just where Rush left him. Vulture-like carrion-eaters nearby.
Eli's boot CRUSHES the SKULL!
ZOOM OUT:
MID-MORNING. ELI (minus his spear) RUNS full tilt thru the challenging terrain towards the Gate, sweating, breathing heavily, often looking back, stumbling, almost falling on his face, swerving, pushing off obstacles...
The Vulture-like carrion-eaters fly high above.
Something SNARLS. Uncomfortably close!
Soon as he's in range, ELI uses his REMOTE to DIAL.
More SNARLS. LOUDER.
# GATE ROOM. COUNTDOWN CLOCK nearing RED ZONE. 2-3 minutes after Eli left.
RING ACTIVATES, starts SPINNING.
Ring LOCKS.
VORTEX WHOOSHES, prompting the scrap of paper perched on one of the Consoles to FALL down.
PUDDLE stabilizes. A ragged ELI Jumps IN, with mud on face, a bloodied hairline, a BANDAGED elbow, torn trousers, his laptop, a trailing (scratched) kino, little else.
Gate DEACTIVATES. ELI, walking unsteadily, PICKS UP his 'farewell note'.
* SPACE. A DRONE COMMAND SHIP MATERIALIZES, not too far from DESTINY.
# GATE ROOM. Console shows 1 FAT RED ICON DEPLOYING many SMALL RED DOTS. ALARMS FLASH.
ELI
(checking, plaintive?)
C'mon!! Gimme a break!!!
COUNTDOWN CLOCK in the RED ZONE, nearing 0.
* DESTINY JUMPS TO FTL, just as the drone SWARM gets close.
# GATE ROOM. Alarms STOP. Safe for now.
ELI
(slumps on Console)
Pheeeewwwwww!!!
(starts NERVOUSLY/HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING)
I'm back! Back from the Future!
YOUNG arrives running, WEAPON in hand.
YOUNG (lowers weapon)
So, this is why Destiny woke me up!?
# DESTINY. INFIRMARY. Refreshed, ELI talks fast, gesturing with his free hand while YOUNG puts new/better BANDAGING around his arm.
YOUNG
That database, was it the same as Novus'?
ELI
(keys LAPTOP)
More or less. Here's 1000s of pages on Bio Engineering, including...
HIS SCREEN:
Noctis docs:
CURING ALS
and other gene-related trouble (+DNA comparisons)
ELI
Trouble is, we have no way of putting any of it to use, with so much of our equipment kaput.
# OBSERVATION DECK. ELI (stitched/new clothing) nibbles some food, watches FTL 'lights' ahead. A kino zooms around.
ELI
(grim)
Nothing has changed: Destiny still needs to flee. I still need to go. This time I might be able to change things.
YOUNG, by the door, arms crossed, ACCEPTS a decision he doesn't like.
* DESTINY DROPS FROM FTL. In the middle of nowhere.
# GATE ROOM. COUNTDOWN CLOCK ticks 1 hour before the RED ZONE. A kino hovers around (RECORDING).
ELI's gearing up with some extra (military?) apparel. Breath shows as tiny PUFFS in the chilly ambient air.
Buttoning up:
ELI
...we cannot just abandon 'em [+]!
Helping with backpack:
YOUNG
(worried)
Your idea, remember?
Tugging at laptop strapped to chest:
ELI
Yeah. If we hadn't tried Dialing inside that star, Novus... huh, Noctis wouldn't even exist. So that's how many millions of lives on my conscience?
Slipping RAT BARS into Eli's pocket:
YOUNG
Not what I meant. Look, Eli: don't let your sense of duty push you to a bad decision.
Trying BREATHER MASK:
ELI
This isn't a bad decision!
Attaching beltside knife:
YOUNG
Perhaps not. But listen: if you're gonna get involved in a real war, you gotta think really hard about all the
(tightens some strap)
consequences. First order of business is: don't get killed for nothing. Overconfidence's lethal. Understand?
ELI
(touched)
I... I'll be careful. Promise. I'll find someone who can cure T.J and Park. I'll get spare parts for the ship. Ammo. Food. All part of the deal.
(extends hand)
You... you make sure Rush doesn't forget about Ginn, will you?
YOUNG
(smiles)
[+] count on it, son.
(HUGS ELI)
I'm so proud of you!
ELI
(eyes widen)
And my mom... Gosh! I need one last thing!
As he starts TURNING, Young blocks him, hands a small BOX.
YOUNG
Here: An Ancient Communication Stone. Keep in touch.
ELI
(grins)
Roger that.
(mentally counting)
All data on the drones & other aliens, subspace and FTL drives, Gate tech...
YOUNG
(amused?)
Anything on weapons or shields?
Unstrapping LAPTOP:
ELI
Hm! And cloaks. Might come in handy. I'll copy it from the Console right now. And don't worry: we're getting the power from the target Gate. Destiny'll still reach the next galaxy.
YOUNG
One less concern. You sure we shouldn't be sending Rush instead?
Turning to Console:
ELI
Not in a million years!
LATER:
COUNTDOWN CLOCK with a few minutes left.
Everything packed up and ready, Eli brings up the Console's DIALING menu.
Suddenly: RING ACTIVATES, starts SPINNING.
ELI
(surprised? annoyed?)
What!? Incoming!?
YOUNG (from a vantage position) draws out his pistol.
YOUNG
(gestures)
Quick! Behind the Console!
ELI CROUCHES. Ring LOCKS.
VORTEX WHOOSHES. PUDDLE stabilizes.
ELI dares a peek.
Immediately, a powerful ARMORED WARRIOR (a head taller than Eli?) JUMPS OUT, at full run, backpack pounding, a long STAFF/SPEAR of unknown kind clutched in hand, all his other gear & weapons Noctis-style. Darkish form-fitting ARMOR not unlike an EVA suit (kevlar / carbonfiber), military-decorated, Novan INSIGNIA on shoulders/arms, battle-scarred, complete with full helmet. Poor lighting obscures his face.
ARMORED WARRIOR
(shouting)
Make way! Make way! MAKE! WAY!!
YOUNG hesitates to point his weapon. ELI's too amazed to react.
A somewhat improved (more stylized) version of a neo-kino (silver-gold) FOLLOWS the newcomer away from the Gate.
HOT ON HIS HEELS, overtaking the neo-kino, a thundering deadly-looking toothy scaly PREDATOR (complete with a smallish tail-tip spiky MACE) BURSTS OUT of the Puddle at full gallop. Smaller, faster, with different skin/mouth/horns, yet related to the RHINO-like plant-eater from the JUNGLE PLANET. Its breath "puffs" almost dragon-like.
GATE DEACTIVATES, its wavering light vanishing.
The BEAST hesitates in the poor light & air, SWERVES towards ELI, faintly illuminated by the Console.
YOUNG shoots, once. The bullet RICOCHETS against the animal's hard scales!
ARMORED WARRIOR
(about-faces)
Don't shoot! It's armor-plated!
He then POINTS his weapon at his distracted pursuer and, jumping/leaning forward, PUSHES IT between the beast's head & shoulders.
As its TIP makes contact, the entire staff CRACKLES with SPECTACULARLY LETHAL AMOUNTS of ELECTRICITY, ENVELOPING the monster in sudden AGONY, yet somehow doesn't electrocute its wielder too.
The beast GROANS, manages a few shaky steps, FALLS DEAD in front of ELI's Console. Tiny WISPS of vapor/smoke can be guessed more than glimpsed.
ARMORED WARRIOR
(stands upright)
Hah! I'm NOT too old for this shit!!
ELI
Who the hell are you? What are you doing here? How...?
The ARMORED WARRIOR raises his faceplate, revealing gray-white cropped hair, a thick-built almost-FAMILIAR FACE (aged & worn), right eye missing under a good-sized metallic-looking EYEPATCH.
MARSHALL
(grins)
Eli, it's me: Eli Wallace. You can call me Marshall Wallace.
(gestures, as ELI reacts)
I brought you dinner!
He briefly TOUCHES his staff's TIP again to the dead beast, giving it a smaller DOSE of the same electrifying treatment. More generous wisps of VAPOUR/smoke emanate from it.
YOUNG
That's... a military rank.
MARSHALL
Yeah. Earned with blood.
ELI approaches the dead beast (and his older self) cautiously.
ELI
But... I just decided what to do: I was going back to present-time Noctis and...
MARSHALL
I know. You did it. That's why I'm here.
YOUNG (lowers pistol a bit)
You brought... nothing else?
As he carefully fishes a small foam-wrapped "sphere" from an inner pocket:
MARSHALL
Ahh, yes: I promised. Here's all the tools and knowledge needed to cure ALS and 1000s of other medical troubles. Several options for Dr. Park. Detailed procedures for...
He offers his gift to ELI, who takes it, opens the foam carefully, reveals a KINO MEMORY CORE ("small triambic icosahedron", perhaps a 7th of a whole kino's volume)
MARSHALL
...making many different pills. Things like insulin. Meds for Volker. A nicotine substitute. Even instant genengineered coffee.
As ELI shows him the KMC:
YOUNG
This... this is wonderful!
MARSHALL
My people carry a blast-proof crate full of 'em. The entire Alliance Database. But the
(smiles)
coffee's from Earth. Wait till you taste it!
He FOLDS his staff into 4 linked segments, SHEATHES 'em on his back.
MARSHALL
We should get this meat out of the Gateroom and stored someplace better than the floor.
Packing laptop:
ELI
I'll fetch the kino sled.
YOUNG
You said that thing's edible?
MARSHALL
(sniffs)
Unlike their toxic plant-eater cousins, yes, quite. Been too long since I last had one of these, but...
(unsheathes a big hunting KNIFE)
I guarantee you'll like it medium-charred.
* DESTINY IN FTL.
# DESTINY. MESS HALL. ELI and YOUNG nibble their fat SLABS of crispy alien meat, while MARSHALL demolishes his 2nd (speared on knife).
Also on the table: 2 nearly identical copies of Ginn's ballpen-sketched PORTRAIT (1 of them plastic-sealed, aged, worn, blood-stained?).
MARSHALL (cont.)
...got the design from Earth, actually.
(re: STAFF)
We just adapted it to our needs, giving it enough of a kick to knock...
FLASHBACK: Neo-kino footage of:
* ALIEN PLANET. WOODS' EDGE. DAY. A middle-aged Eli (in half-armor, sans eyepatch), his staff shooting a POWERFUL ELECTRIC ARC towards a swooping DRONE, HITTING but not destroying it: it BURSTS IN FLAMES, tumbling & approaching him FAST.
MARSHALL (O.S. cont.)
out a drone at close distance. The tricky part is getting the Naquadah power cell right. And staying clear of their crashing path, obviously.
CUT TO:
# NOVAN HOSPITAL. MARSHALL (face half-bandaged) undergoing treatment. Doctors, NURSES. His future WIFE smiles.
BACK TO:
MARSHALL taps EYEPATCH.
YOUNG
(impressed?)
You braved the journey alone? With just that weapon?
MARSHALL
Oh, no: My squad's taking a well-deserved rest on a sunny beach at a nice ocean planet.
FLASHBACK: neo-kino footage of:
* 'Pterodactyl' PLANET. AFTERNOON. 10+ soldiers (incl. MARSHALL) variously armored, fire their ELECTRIC STAFFS + conventional weapons at a TRIO of attacking "pterodactyls" (too agile & manoeuverable to be easily hit).
Shortly after, they (some with bandages & torn clothing) CROSS (+ kinos) that planet's NORMAL PUDDLE carrying several loads of roasted 'bird' meat; later EXIT a DISTORTED PUDDLE (with their loads & kinos, patched-up clothes, no bandages) not far from the sea.
MARSHALL (O.S.)
We had a snag with the chicken-pterodactyls a few years after you got thru, while gathering provisions for the rest of the trip.
CUT TO:
* LUSH JUNGLE PLANET. MORNING. MARSHALL runs into the Gate's PUDDLE while the scaly beast CHARGES up the ramp, a step behind. His P.O.V. reveals his eyepatch has ARTIFICIAL (infra-red?) VISION.
MARSHALL (O.S.)
The only planet I traveled on my own was the last.
BACK TO:
'Toasting' with half-eaten meat slab:
MARSHALL
But it was well worth it!
ELI
Thing is, unless we assume branching timelines, we should have run into each other on the way back here. [+]
YOUNG
(chewing)
Perhaps there's more than 1 route?
MARSHALL
That too. Y'see, to Novans, messing around with the timeline is an unacceptable risk. Only logical, given their origins. [+] But trade routes were always their lifeblood, even more with the war. So, to keep 'em flowing efficiently, the stellar flare database had to be updated and improved.
# Marshall's DESK at Noctis, with several COMPUTERS checking neo-kino data. On the wall a SIGN: Dare mighty things!
MARSHALL (O.S.)
I helped station special-purpose kinos near every Gate, ready to dial in case of flares, and Jump into any disrupted wormhole that resulted. The Gates' own status-reporting network came in very handy.
BACK TO:
MARSHALL
A couple years ago I started reorganizing all that data. I found another set of Jumps leading back here, with barely 2 months of waiting around between start and end.
ELI
Only 2!? We spent twice that!
YOUNG
So you did it? You changed things?
MARSHALL
(half-smile)
You bet we did. War was quite different this time, yet the end result was the same.
(as the others REACT)
That's why I've come back.
ELI
But you had the advantage of foreknowledge...
YOUNG
Plus all the data you got from Destiny. And your brains...
MARSHALL
Yeah, it all helped.
FLASHBACK: kino FOOTAGE of:
* Similar trade caravans as before, with lots more vehicles (incl. military), people & goods (incl. weapons systems). Often, LOW-ORBIT/ATMOSPHERIC FIGHTERS fly overhead, AA-Batteries (LASERS aplenty) EXERCISE nearby.
MARSHALL (O.S.)
We did pretty well at first: confirmed the rumors of attacks, involved most other colonies, contacted Earth for advice, and destroyed plenty of drones and Command Ships.
BACK TO:
ELI
So far so good, but why didn't the Novans win the war this time?
MARSHALL
Let me tell you: History didn't repeat itself.
KINO-SWITCH TO:
* SEVERAL different PLANETS. Buildings & factories inside natural or artificial UNDERGROUND spaces. Plenty of surface-based beam & kinetic DEFENSES. Assorted military personnel Gating to & fro. Orbiting weapons platforms, mines and surveillance 'scopes. Squadrons of FIGHTER SHIPS practicing in low orbit.
MARSHALL (O.S.)
The Alliance was a success, despite the political differences: we expanded our industrial might, every colony was able to defend itself and cause serious losses to each enemy attack wave, Noctis was getting lots of recruits instead of refugees, and I was able to contribute...
CUT TO:
# Marshall's WORKSHOP: a large factory full of COMPUTERS, whiteboards, notepads, machinery, cranes, unfinished PROTOTYPES, technicians, sparks, & all. Noctis City (night) GLIMPSED thru windows.
MARSHALL (cont. O.S.)
...plenty of useful ideas to the effort. It was great having lots of help with the trickier engineering stages: our technical and production capabilities improved quickly. We steeled ourselves and presented a united and much tougher front against...
SWITCH TO:
* SPACE BATTLE. Squadrons of (small) FIGHTER SHIPS with surface-defense support DEAL with a numerous drone SWARM, start hitting its Command Ship, DAMAGING it.
MARSHALL (cont. O.S.)
'em drones, and grew in power despite their relentless attacks. When the time came to expand our warfleet, and start harassing their forward systems, we really believed we were gonna get rid of 'em once and for all.
BACK TO:
ELI
Did you subvert any of these drones?
MARSHALL
Indeed. And used 'em to great effect. Until one day they became unhackable and we had to change tactics. I now wish we had left that trick for later, when we needed every advantage just to keep them at bay.
ELI
Was it these... Omegas? How did they beat you?
MARSHALL
Their superior firepower was just a part of their success. Their better mobility had always been a big factor, as our efforts at FTL were slow, even with Earth's help. By the time we got our first working FTL prototypes, they had already wiped out Novus' evac fleet.
(as the others REACT)
And they did it 8 years earlier than in the previous timeline, while we believed we had time to spare. We didn't fully realize at the time the significance of that change.
YOUNG
They're very adaptable. So they adapted to your stronger resistance?
MARSHALL
That'd be my guess. With all their losses and the things they were learning from our battles, their natural 'rate of improvement' accelerated. A Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' across 100s of worlds and 1000s of fights.
* SPACE. Near GREENISH planet. 7 OMEGAS (IMPROVED from previous timeline) and their swarms FACE OFF against 20+ Novus-style LIGHT DESTROYERS, supported by 1000+ improved FIGHTER SHIPS and surface-based beam+kinetic artillery. BEAMS everywhere, a wild battle. A damaged Omega EXPLODES, another is HIT, spouts flames. Half the DESTROYERS are damaged already.
MARSHALL (O.S.)
10 years later we saw the first Omegas, only this time we were waiting for them, with our warfleets and weapons ready. Even so, their initial strike was devastating.
Shortly after, the planet starts receiving OMEGA FIRE.
BACK TO:
MARSHALL
It wasn't until we managed to kill the 1st few that we learned the awful truth: they carried Ancient as well as Novan and even Ursini parts. They were absorbing the technology of their enemies to improve themselves, something well beyond their original programming and purpose.
YOUNG
It's what any smart military would do.
ELI
But no mere weapons platform could even try.
YOUNG
Where did they get Ancient technology?
MARSHALL
(grim)
Some of it came from the Seed Ship, but mainly it came from Destiny.
(as the others REACT)
ONSCREEN: Noctis docs:
* GALACTIC MAP. Both the 'drone galaxy' and the next have their rims dotted in BLUE. A list of SWARMS scrolls by the side: as each swarm CODE scrolls by, "telemetry" cross-hairs MARK the corresponding blue DOT.
25+ blue dots start a SEARCH pattern in deep space, around the next galaxy's rim.
Footers: Intel Report
& Eyes Only
SWITCH TO:
* SPACE. BATTLE SITE. Distorted-color footage of lots of DEBRIS (most from DESTINY, some from DRONES) floating around, not far from a shiny pinprick of a yellow STAR. An ALERT: ID positive: Destiny
Survivors: 0
Footer TIMECODES, including: Drone War. Year 27, Month 7 and Captured enemy ship DATABANK (confirmed)
MARSHALL (cont. O.S.)
We got proof they found and destroyed the ship when it was coasting powerless just a couple light years away from the next galaxy.
BACK TO:
ELI
(horrified)
Hell...!
YOUNG
So close...!!
Typing furiously at LAPTOP:
ELI
I gotta review all the power systems!
MARSHALL
Don't waste your time. There's too many possible causes for such a small drain. Or a minuscule efficiency loss at the FTL engines. There's no way to know in advance. But that's not the worst of it.
YOUNG
Destiny, Noctis, the whole war. What could possibly be worse?
ELI
Let him explain. We'll keep it from happening anyway.
MARSHALL
We better. Our 'Stardrifter' FTL probes mapped out the enemy's Jump patterns, forward stations,
ONSCREEN:
* GALACTIC MAP. With plenty of strategically located LINES, DOTS, CIRCLES: GREEN for Novans, BLUE for drones (85% of the galaxy is theirs). A few RED blobs mark evidence of DESTROYED alien races (Ursini et al).
Caption: Known drone activity.
& Eyes Only
FOCUS: neighboring galaxies, with some BLUE DOTS, LINES & CIRCLES spreading.
MARSHALL (cont. O.S.)
core space and systems, but also their growing presence on both neighboring galaxies. Little more than beachheads, but it didn't look like anyone was stopping them from spreading around.
BACK TO:
ELI
(gestures 'explosion')
Hot damn! Just like a virus: Pop a cell, onto the next!
YOUNG
(grim)
Never thought I'd feel sorry for the Nakai.
MARSHALL
I saw my fears of many years come true: our enemies had reached a level of intelligence that together with their vast resources and overwhelming numbers advantage made them nigh unbeatable. And they were spreading their blight beyond this...
* SPACE. Planet NOCTIS. Many OMEGAS attacking, despite the fierce resistance of the largest Novan FLEET seen so far: MKII DESTROYERS, 1000s of MKIII FIGHTERS, a barrage of surface-based BEAMS, orbital weapons platforms, MISSILES, mines, etc. Warships & drones being destroyed everywhere.
MARSHALL (cont. O.S.)
...doomed galaxy. It was no surprise then, that despite our technological edge and best efforts, their constant grinding yielded them the upper hand, which led to their razing down every known colony, including Noctis, 46 years from now.
OMEGAS FIRE all kinds of WEAPONS, until the planet itself is ABLAZE.
BACK TO:
MARSHALL
(sad)
Everything was lost. My family... Everyone but a handful scattered survivors on the run.
# OBSERVATION DECK. MARSHALL stands by the railing, watching the FTL "lights" outside.
ELI
You managed to activate the Ancient comm Stone.
MARSHALL
Yes. Wasn't easy.
ELI
How was Earth doing, then?
MARSHALL
Pretty well, all things considered. The big reveal caused quite a stir...
YOUNG
The Stargate Program?
MARSHALL
And the galactic war. But then came peace, and they could rebuild...
Interrupting:
ELI
And mom?
MARSHALL
(smiles?)
Happy that she could finally tell everybody where her son was, what he was doing, how proud she was of him...
ELI
And after that?
MARSHALL
She went to live at an Air Force base, where she met many military families who were very supportive. Told me she'd never been better, her only regret the certainty that she'd never be with her son again.
ELI
(impatient)
And after that?
MARSHALL
I was able to bring her to Noctis a few times: She cooked for me; I showed her the auroras and some of the things I was working on. She lived to old age
(sad)
and died at peace, years before the end.
ELI's eyes well with tears.
YOUNG
I'm sorry.
As he gently lays his hand on ELI's shoulder:
MARSHALL
She's still alive for you, Eli. You'll still be able to talk and reunite. Don't mourn a future that's yet to happen.
ELI
(mastering emotions)
You're... right... I guess.
MARSHALL
It's the 'now' that matters.
The others silently AGREE.
MARSHALL
I left my squad behind on a pretext. But they'll soon start worrying about my absence, and will follow the original plan and me.
YOUNG
What do you want us to do?
MARSHALL
Wish I knew. Truth is, I don't see how another try at defending Noctis will improve things: The Omegas are utterly unstoppable. We need a change of tack.
ELI
(frowns)
We've been unable to prevent what's happened up to now. The future should be... easier.
YOUNG
If we don't do something, none of us has a future.
ELI
(pats LAPTOP)
I think I have an idea, but I'll need to check the database to make sure.
(to MARSHALL)
I'd appreciate your help.
MARSHALL nods.
YOUNG
And I need to report to Earth, but 1st I'll have to dream a way to explain all this.
(smiles)
My million-year-old bed awaits. Gentlemen...
# CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM. MARSHALL and ELI work Consoles. His laptop, ATTACHED to one, shows an ALERT: Download all primary
and secondary data, Y/N?
ELI
Why not.
He clicks YES.
# DESTINY. KINO 'DISPENSER'. ELI loads the kino SLED with 10s of fresh kinos.
# CONTROL INTERFACE ROOM. MARSHALL still working. ELI comes back with a fully loaded SLED.
The upper 3rd of the room is FULL of hovering KINOS.
LATER:
Kino swarm gone. A good-sized CRATE to one side, half-full of foam-packed Kino Memory Cores (similar to Marshall's). A pile of half-DISASSEMBLED kinos stacked up against a corner.
ELI checks then DETACHES the KMC from 1 of the half-DISASSEMBLED kinos linked to the Console, then proceeds to WRAP the delicate circuitry in a piece of Rush's prized CO2-absorbing FOAM. MARSHALL's doing the same.
# GATE ROOM. Next day. 2 good-sized CRATES already there, sealed. YOUNG and MARSHALL (fully geared up) enter carrying a 3rd CRATE, also sealed. ELI behind, also fully geared up (Noctis-style) checking his LAPTOP. The unavoidable kino follows.
YOUNG
Are you sure about this?
ELI
(approaches Console)
We cannot allow this... plague... to run its course. If someone's got a better plan, say it now.
MARSHALL
Not me. Anyway, it's worth the try.
YOUNG
And you insist on keeping it a secret? Even from me?
ELI
(keys Console)
You already know too much as it is.
MARSHALL agrees.
YOUNG
But you're sure you can save Destiny...
MARSHALL
That should be the easy part.
(to ELI)
Still, the entire database!? Pray Rush never learns what we used for foam packing.
As he navigates MENUS:
ELI
It's pure math: If the drones got it, we won't beat 'em with anything less. Remember: Too important. No shortcuts.
YOUNG
Allright, then. We're in your hands, son. I'm still proud of you.
ELI
(pauses his Console-fu)
9 light years to the nearest star.
(punches key)
Here we go!
* DESTINY DROPS FROM FTL. (In the middle of nowhere)
# GATE ROOM. The Countdown CLOCK's started: 6 hours to go.
ELI
(checks)
Okay: we're good. Got some time to kill. Or, maybe breakfast?
Suddenly: RING ACTIVATES, starts SPINNING.
ELI
(annoyed)
What now!?
Signaling to the others:
MARSHALL
Into position, quick! We don't know what may come thru this time!
Ring LOCKS. VORTEX WHOOSHES.
PUDDLE stabilizes. MARSHALL points his STAFF at it.
IN FLIES/GLIDES a man in light silver-white ARMOR suit (form-fitting, showing a strong build, w/helmet), FOLLOWED by a silver-white neo-kino (the sleekest, most similar to Ancient kinos so far).
GATE DEACTIVATES. The newcomer quickly & gracefully LANDS. Attached to waist, collar, and joints of his armor suit: small kino-like silver-white SPHERES. On his chest: an eye-catching lightblue 'CIRCLE' surrounded by a bunch of smaller blinking/circling lightblue 'DOTS'.
ELI
(admiringly? joking)
Wow, Iron-man!
The newcomer opens his HELMET, 'folds' it (not unlike a hood) onto the neck/shoulder PLATES. Under it, he sports a tight-fitting hood + a simple breathing MASK. His face is Eli's, aged to mid-40s, dark hair with touches of gray, shallow if any wrinkles. The 'CIRCLE & DOTS' on his chest are more clearly seen as just a fancy corporate LOGO of an active GATE surrounded by 9 highlighted CHEVRONS/GLYPHS. On his back, another pale-blue SIGN: Star Industries
Removing hood, mask, gauntlets:
CHAIRMAN
(pleased?)
I knew you'd say that. It's Chairman Wallace, actually.
(as the others REACT)
Not bad for a publicity stunt, huh?
ELI
That's not military...
CHAIRMAN
(grins)
No, but my company has an army of engineers.
(to MARSHALL)
Old friend! Good to see you again!
As they shake hands:
MARSHALL
I guess the original plan...?
CHAIRMAN
(high-speed corporate exec)
Evolved over the years. Needed to.
(to ELI)
Eli, m'boy, your plan was good, but this one's better, trust me.
(expansively, to YOUNG)
Colonel, I'm pleased to offer you the full might and assistance of the Novan Federation of Planets. My people's waiting to Gate in with supplies, spares, power cells, you-name-it. Sorry, we're in a hurry.
(facing everyone)
I suggest we end 'power saving mode' and bring Destiny to full operational status ASAP.
