Celestial Patrol
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Title:
_**Celestial Patrol**_
_**Season 1, Episode 1**_
_**Armageddon**_
Credit: Written by
Author: John Colagioia
Draft date: 6/12/2016 – 9/9/2016
Contact:
Colagioia Industries
http://colagioia.com
http://celestialpatrol.com
john@colagioia.com
Notes:
DRAFT
All drafts available under the
Creative Commons Attribution, Share-Alike 3.0 License
Copyright: © 2016 John Colagioia
===
# Teaser
## FADE IN
EXT. SPACE - THE CHALLENGER
approaching the planet Nergal Four, growing larger as the vessel approaches. The planet's coloration trends towards the green, largely a forested world.
TRASK (V.O.)
Captain Lucas Trask's journal, 41.79 ship-days out of Station Four.
We are on approach to Euphonia, the Nergal Four colony. Exploration Command has lost contact with the colonial government and, as we are currently nearby, has requested that the Challenger divert briefly from our ... other missions. We are to investigate their radio silence and, if necessary, provide assistance in getting Euphonia back online.
CUT TO:
## Mission Briefing
INT. BRIEFING ROOM - WIDE SHOT
TRASK
Mr. Harkaman, what can you tell us about the Nergal colony?
HARKAMAN
Settled ninety-five years ago, Euphonia was designed by Earthlings Sarah Grindwell and Hugh Berlioz to be a "harmonious city," from the name to the architecture to the planned culture. Their citizens have largely withdrawn from the Commonwealth, socially, not wanting our more vulgar--their term--culture to pollute their own.
Because of that, our only contact has been through monthly hyperspace radio with the Commonwealth Parliament. They have now missed their second check-in.
TRASK
Mr. Tuno?
TUNO
Environment is Earth-normal, temperate. Sensors detect normal activity in Euphonia itself and naturally-distributed life. No other industrial centers appear on the surface or in orbit.
TRASK
Thoughts, Mr. Kinnison?
KINNISON
Sir, Nergal was once disputed territory, with the Kiu-Han border nearby, and there were several skirmishes with the Kiu-Han during settlement. So, the planet has strategic value to many regional powers. No information can be found in the records as to what sort of culture the Euphonians might have created that needs to be walled off from the benefits of the rest of Civilization in the Commonwealth.
TRASK
Understood. Iskander, Harkaman, Alvarath, Tuno, and Samms, we leave for the surface at once. Be ready for anything. Mr. Kinnison, the conn is yours; try not to burn down the house while we're away.
KINNISON
Aye, sir.
CUT TO:
## First Contact
EXT. LANDING CRAFT
door opens and the landing party files out into a wooden area, with a fluid skyline in the background; the party begins scanning for communications and life-signs.
TUNO
Registering no humanoid life-signs, Captain Trask.
CHO
(entering, a flashing/chirping device over his right ear) [3]
Your scanners will not operate well given the harmonic signals broadcast.
TRASK
(raising his Lewiston) [1]
Identify yourself!
CHO
Lieutenant Governor Dana Cho. As we detect the Challenger in orbit, you must be Captain Lucas Trask. Welcome to Euphonia and if I may extend our sincerest condol--
TRASK
You may not!
CHO
(visibly taken aback)
Our apologies, then. Let's get down to business; we have much to discuss.
## Opening credits over the last minute or so of Gustav Holst's "Jupiter the Bringer of Jollity" [40]
===
# Act I
INT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
with an austere, sterile decor. Trask and the landing party stand across from GOVERNOR WINEMA GRINDWELL at her desk. Ambient music plays in all interior locations on the planet, upbeat and somewhat alien in scale, if possible. [42~]
GRINDWELL
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
If I can direct your attention to the viewscreen, I can explain the foundation of Euphonia's harmony. Societics, invented by Estevan Abranavel, is the applied study of the interaction of individuals in a culture, the interaction of the group generated by these individuals, the equations derived therefrom, and the application of these equations to control one or more factors of this same culture.
TUNO
You mean to suggest that the population is controlled by manipulation of external factors, but that is both contrary to Commonwealth law and Societics has been discredited as an active tool for what might broadly be termed mind control.
SAMMS
Nghh!
ISKANDER
Michelle, are you all right?
SAMMS
A mild headache.
(under her breath)
Probably Grindwell's cheering.
(normal)
Apologies, everyone.
CHO
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
Yes, to answer Commander Tuno's question, Societics is the foundation of our society, not the infrastructure. Over generations, we have taken Abranavel's ideas and adapted them to work for us. Discredited as Societics may be, it still contains a kernel of truth. The equations do work. But instead of controlling ill-defined factors, we feed the equations through the city-area network to each citizen's neural interface--
(tapping) [3]
--and so everybody sees live feedback of everyone's actions, making all problems self-correcting. We impose nothing and everybody participates voluntarily.
TRASK
That brings us ... __again__ to the reason for our appearance in orbit, Governor.
ISKANDER
Governor, the Captain makes an important point that the Challenger has been pulled from important duties in order to ensure the safety of and security of the Euphoneia colony and the Nergal system overall. The Nergal charter carries a responsibility to maintain regular contact.
GRINDWELL
(tapping) [3]
Yes, of course. But first, a toast to our first visitors in a generation. We have nothing harder at the colony, but we do manufacture a soft drink that we soon plan to export to the Commonwealth. I can have Dario bring in a tray of Evri-Flave.
SAMMS
(awkwardly)
That sounds ... refreshing!
GRINDWELL
(tapping) [3]
Excellent. Anybody else? It __is__ a local delicacy.
TRASK
(sharp)
That won't be necessary, Governor. We are here to investigate your hyperspace radio's status. You--
ISKANDER
(interrupting Trask before he says something offensive)
Your office has missed several mandatory check-ins with the Parliament, as you no doubt know.
GRINDWELL
(tapping) [3]
Of course. It had been considered merely a formality for so long that, when the device fell into disrepair, we were ... grateful for the respite. We are making an exception for your esteemed landing party, but we don't generally wish your vulgar culture polluting our own.
ALVARATH
(stifling a laugh)
Governor, while we ... certainly appreciate your hospitality, it occurs to me that we can keep the cultural pollution mostively by bringing your hyperspace radio back into service. Not that we don't appreciate the presentation of your social sciences, of course.
GRINDWELL
(tapping) [3]
Commander Alvarath, we gravely apologize for wasting your time, but we wanted to emphasize that our laws do not conflict with those of the Commonwealth. All participants in our grand experiment are willing, as is compliance with our Societic directives.
ISKANDER
And what happens to those who refuse to comply or those who reject the directives?
CHO
(tapping) [3]
Why nothing, of course, should that situation ever come to pass. They may wish to leave Nergal Four, given that Euphonia's charter requires that it not share any industrial capacity, but they are free to do so or to remain. But, in generations ...
an explosion rattles the room. [5]
ALVARATH
(sharply)
Lieutenant Governor Cho, I do believe that you were about to tell us that nobody in generations has been unhappy with your policies.
GRINDWELL
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
Our apologies. We neglected to mention the separatists. Their settlement, wherever it is, has no technology, so we are generally inclined to ignore them as irrelevant. They have separated and good riddance to them.
SAMMS
No technology, except for a bomb that is capable of rattling an interior building and a delivery system creating an airburst, you mean.
GRINDWELL
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
Captain Trask, I have tolerated much, but I can no longer tolerate your party's insinuations that we are even capable of dishonesty to your valiant and enterprising crew. This is exactly the kind of pollution we seek to avoid and, when our hyperspace radio is operational, we will file a complaint with the Commonwealth Exploratory Command.
CHO
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
And it is clear that what Commander Samms refers to as a bomb must have been merely some sort of celebratory ritual. They are a primitive people, after all, and we cannot expect them to calibrate their fireworks.
TRASK
(exasperated)
Fine. Show us to the hyperspace radio and we will begin repairs immediately and be out of each other's hair as soon as possible.
CHO
(Cho taps his neural interface) [3]
Very well, Captain. This way.
CUT TO:
## Missing Radio
INT. RADIO SHACK
in shambles, sparks flying from every direction. [7]
SAMMS
Everybody back!
(checks the room, pushes a damaged metal panel out of the way [8])
Clear!
TUNO
Captain, none of the remaining devices is the hyperspace radio assigned to the colony, nor do I see any other.
TRASK
Lieutenant Governor Cho, I demand an explanation immediately.
CHO
(activating and reactivating his device) [3]
I have no idea, Captain.
(again)
This must be the work of the separatists!
HARKAMAN
The separatists that didn't exist minutes ago, but now exist with no technology, you mean. They just walked off with your highly-secured hyperspace radio. Why?
CHO
(again activating his device) [3]
They must have done it to ...
(again) [3]
Undermine the colony!
(again) [3]
And they have __armed__ themselves, Captain! We demand the Challenger's help in stopping these clearly-dangerous rebels!
officers arrive, dressed in light armor, all with chirping temple implants. [9~] [3] [3] [3]
TRASK
And your officers, here?
CHO
(activating his device) [3]
Our gendarmery is capable of securing this facility--
ALVARATH
All evidence to the contrary.
CHO
(the device again) [3]
__Re-securing__ the facility, thank you, but if there is an insurrection around us, we cannot afford to send our __sole__ enforcement of Commonwealth law into the forests to--
(again) [3]
--__investigate__ the rebels and round up any that have participated in this. The fleet mission--
(again) [3]
--includes, after all, the security of all Commonwealth colonies.
ALVARATH
Captain ...
TRASK
(quietly, briefly softened)
Objection __noted__, Valerie.
(harshly)
Lieutenant Governor, it sounds like we certainly __should__ have a word with your "rebel separatists" as soon as possible. Please confer with Lieutenant Tuno as to the location of their nearest encampment immediately.
CHO
(the implant again) [3]
We ... do not have that information.
(off their looks)
Allow me to explain!
As mentioned, they have no technology to speak of, living an arboreal life in the forest canopy, as far as we can tell. The harmonic signals in the air at this location also interfere with the detection of signs of life beyond the visual.
(tapping the implant) [3]
We can, however, offer you the company of my assistant.
(a hulking man arrives in the doorway, dressed like the gendarmery)
This is Superintendent Radius Coppélia. After serving in the gendarmery for several years, he worked to--
(tapping the implant) [3]
--track the separatists through the forests and discover the best ways to locate their camps, before--
(tapping the implant) [3]
--coming to work for my office. There is no better escort possible for your crew.
SAMMS
(suspicious)
Mr. Coppélia, looking forward to working with--
COPPELIA
Grrnnnn!
SAMMS
Of ... course.
TRASK ^
Obviously.
TRASK
Lieutenant Governor Cho, clean up this mess and inform Governor Grindwell that we will have a __long__ talk, along with the Commonwealth Parliament, when we have returned and restored the radio.
CHO
Of course, Captain. Good luck.
SAMMS
Captain, with your permission, I would ... like to stay and get a better sense of the history behind these separatists and see what they are separating __from__.
TRASK
(hesitant)
Very well. Maintain __constant__ contact with the Challenger.
SAMMS
Yes, sir.
CUT TO:
## Introduce Anthony "Don't Call Me Buck" Rogers
EXT. CITY GATES
leading the group is Coppélia, his implant chirping constantly as the party clears the gate. [3] [3] [3]
TRASK
Where to, Mr. Coppélia?
the chirping slows down to a rhythmic pulse as they walk, and becomes sharper, like a digital ticking. A projectile smashes Coppélia, shattering him into very mechanical pieces, with a box lit and ticking away in the center. [3] [3] [3]
ISKANDER
An ... android! That does explain his conversational skills.
rebel ANTHONY ROGERS, likely a man of Lebanese descent, springs from the tree line and pushes the party back.
TRASK
Who are you, mister, and what do you think you're ...?
ROGERS
(all but dragging Harkaman)
My name is Tony Rogers and I __think__ I'm getting you away from that bomb before it detonates!
they run as the bomb explodes. [6]
===
# Act II
EXT. FOREST PATH
the landing party walking single-file followed by Rogers. Natural sounds of all sorts are extremely common and ever-changing to emphasize the earthiness. [10~]
TRASK (V.O.)
Trask's journal, 41.88 ship-days.
Euphonia Colony appears to have tried to assassinate the landing party and we have been saved only to land in the custody of the colony's separatist faction, including Tony Rogers, a strangely familiar man.
walking sounds throughout [11~]
TRASK
Rogers, we are going to need answers at some point. You had better start now before we miss scheduled contact with our ship.
ROGERS
(under his breath)
Captain, the gendarmery will __not__ be fooled for very long and will come looking for you. It is best that we continue quietly until it is safe to talk. We're almost there.
a quiet and familiar beeping and buzzing can be heard.
TUNO
(hushed)
Captain, our sensors appear to be away from the jamming phenomenon.
ROGERS
(louder, now)
Yes, Euphonia's isolation system is limited to a buffer around the city itself. The rest of the colony may not have much technology available, but we can use it unimpeded.
## Introduce Wilma Deering
DEERING
(off-screen)
Hold where you are! Answer challenge Epsilon-Six.
ROGERS
Intlanzi yeswedi!
from the trees, WILMA DEERING, an athletic woman of likely Kenyan descent, with dark brown hair and (possibly) hazel eyes, drops easily to the ground, wearing her inertron (gravity-resistant) belt and carrying her rocket gun. [12]
DEERING
Welcome home, dear heart. This is the team from Challenger?
ROGERS
It is. Blash's information was right, the city tried to terminate them. Captain, this is my wife, Chief Enforcer Wilma Deering.
TRASK
Charmed, but despite apparently saving us, I'm still not accustomed to being taken hostage by rebellious--
DEERING
You misunderstand, Captain Trask. The __gangs__ are the legitimate authority in the Nergal system, but we're gangs because we've been usurped by the Governing Machine, and on behalf of governor-in-exile Hart, we formally request the Challenger's assistance.
a pair of similarly-toned, high-pitched whistles start quietly and builds while Harkaman speaks. [13]
HARKAMAN
This is all about machine politics? The Challenger is ill-equipped to investigate local political scandals and corruption allegations.
DEERING
No, Commander Harkaman, the--
(searching the sky, then diving to push Harkaman away) [13]
Airship!
a disintegrator beam flashes from the sky, carving a path of destruction through the forest right through Harkaman's previous position. The whistles immediately drop in frequency, redshifting. [13]
ALVARATH
(drawing her Lewiston) [1]
That's a Kiu-Han design!
(fires twice [2], striking the airship's fuel, destroying it in the air)
All right, what's going on, here.
HARKAMAN
Yes, __continue__, please ...
DEERING
I'm sure Grindwell and Cho told the Societics legend.
TUNO
Yes. They endeavored to explain the idea of constant Societics feedback resulting in a voluntarily harmonious population.
DEERING
Exactly. Left unsaid is what happened after. Follow me inside.
(a creaking sound signals a camouflaged entrance opening) [14]
TRANSITION TO:
## Exposition Time
INT. CAVE
possibly a brick or stone interior, lit with primitive "cave paintings" on the walls to illustrate the following.
DEERING
(continuing)
Societics was a failure, and Euphonia was near revolt, as resources were directed away from normal function into encoding Societic feedback into the city's network. Sarah Grindwell was at her wit's end until meeting Major Fred Benson.
the sound of another Airship is heard outside. [13] Trask, Harkaman, and Alvarath draw their weapons. [1] [1]
ROGERS
Captain, relax. This location is shielded.
DEERING
(continuing)
Benson claimed to have been inspired by a vision of the future, where music and a soft drink had been engineered to make citizens compliant. Benson worked with Hugh Berlioz, a psychologist and amateur chemist, to realize his vision. Benson then, according to rumors, used their so-called __Evri-Flave__ and music to coerce Berlioz to commit suicide while he married Grindwell.
TUNO
While music can influence emotional state and several chemicals make humans less skeptical, this still would fail to make Societics useful, Chief Enforcer.
DEERING
And it didn't. The rare psychically-sensitive were quite susceptable, but few others. So, deals were struck ... you might have noticed the gendarmery's armaments ... with nearby Kiu-Han colonies for weapons ...
ALVARATH
(sudden realization)
And the design of the airships!
DEERING
(continuing)
Exactly. The weapons were to suppress riots without risking revocation of the colony's Commonwealth charter. Life arguably returned to normal, the plans of Societics-induced harmony abandoned as the population became less aggressive.
And then the ship crashed. I'm not aware of any known configuration matching it, but a crash outside the city five years ago excited the current administration. Their experiments seem to have made the Societics dream a reality through their communications implants, and began "debugging" its politics by exterminating dissenters. If Tony hadn't arrived, I doubt any of us would be left free.
HARKAMAN
Of course. Tony Rogers, hero of the System States War, I presume. I thought you seemed familiar, but you seem too young to have fought then.
ROGERS
Indeed. After the war, my crew set out to find a new home away from the reconstructivist mess, but we were ambushed by a Kiu-Han ship, presumably ensuring that the System States War didn't spill over into their territory. I was the only survivor, so put myself into suspended animation in an escape pod and set it to follow Commonwealth beacons to the nearest colony. On landing, I took work with Euphonia Radioactive Gas Corporation until seeing the androids.
TRASK
It's an honor to meet you, sir. But androids, too?
ROGERS
You've already met one of the Coppélia line, of course, but Winema Grindwell and Dana Cho have both been replaced. As Wilma indicated, __we__ are the legitimate authority on Nergal.
TRASK
I think that it's time to bring the rest of my crew into this.
(a static burst) [15]
Damn. When you say shielded ... ?
DEERING
Your signal should be able to contact your ship, but I don't ...
an explosion rocks the facility. [5]
ISKANDER
Captain! Evri-Flave, the music, psychically-sensitive? Michelle ...
TRASK
(gasps)
Samms! They must have turned her to track us. We should have left someone behind with her.
ROGERS
Undoubtedly, your Commander Samms's partner would surely have been compromised as well or exterminated as a problem, Captain. You can't blame yourself.
ALVARATH
(almost out of nowhere)
In the meantime, we're going to need the hyperspace radio ... and to arrest you.
musical sting.
CUT TO:
## Back on the Ship
INT. CHALLENGER BRIDGE
buzzing with the crew's activity, Kinnison slightly awkward in charge, not wanting to seem too comfortable in the captain's chair.
KINNISON
Captain Trask is past due, Mr. Chalmers. Have we had any indication that he's in any danger?
CHALMERS
Negative, sir. I cannot raise them, either. The problem with the colony's hyperspace radio may also be interfering with the landing party's communications, of course. There are no signals at all coming from the surface.
KINNISON
Interesting. Mr. Gordon, my feed doesn't show any readings from the surface. Do you have the same?
GORDON
Yes, sir. We have visuals on Euphonia and can verify they have power, but their generators must be below the surface, making the output to our sensors.
the score begins playing the first minute and change of "Mars, Bringer of War" over the remainder of the act. [48~]
HUA
Commander Kinnison! Long-range sensors detect a navigation signal approaching from the outer solar system. The signal is weak, but appears to be ... Kiu-Han.
KINNISON
Thank you, Mr. Hua. Ensign Ravenhurst, given our position, let's assume that the Kiu-Han have not yet seen us. Calculate their likely path to our position and use Nergal's moon to keep us out of sight for the moment.
They wouldn't cross the border for no reason. Something here smells, and I mean to get the bottom of it.
RAVENHURST
Aye, sir.
CHALMERS
Commander, incoming signal from the planet! Unknown origin, it'll take a moment to decipher.
KINNISON
Meant for the Kiu-Han ship?
CHALMERS
Negative. It's a narrow broadcast and doesn't have the power to reach the Kiu-Han position. We're the recipient.
Got it!
COMPUTER (V.O.)
Challenger, you are no longer welcome in Euphonian space. Leave or face destruction.
an explosion rocks the ship, triggering klaxons and sirens. [6] [16]
KINNISON
All hands, red alert!
HUA
Commander, sensors detect ships rising from the planet's surface on course for our position.
another explosion, closing the act on a grim musical note, like those around a minute in. [5]
===
# Act III
EXT. FOREST PATH
returning to the organic, outdoorsy sounds. Trask leads the team, joined by Rogers and Deering as prisoners. [10~]
TRASK
You're __absolutely__ sure about this?
ROGERS
Not absolutely, but this is our best chance.
HARKAMAN
Assuming they don't just execute us all outright, you mean.
walking sounds [11~]
DEERING
Valerie was right, Commander. It's safe to say that the propaganda victory among unsure citizens and the gangs alike will protect us for a while, and they know that the deaths of your entire party __inside__ the city would create too many questions and attract too much unwanted attention from your crew and the Commonwealth. We should be safe, at least initially.
ROGERS
And with your equipment finally out of range, Euphonia will be unable to use your Commander Samms to attack us before we arrive at the gates.
ALVARATH
Plus, the alternative is to wait for additional attempts on our lives. I, for one, was starting to find that unpleasantly repetitive.
TRASK
From what we've seen, the problem won't be the delivery, it'll be the problems __after__ delivery. Now, quiet. It's showtime.
the party exits the cover of the wooded area and takes about thirty seconds to march to the city gates.
PAN TO:
## Return to Euphonia
EXT. CITY GATES
the remains of Coppélia still smolder.
TRASK
Mind Mr. Coppélia over there.
(Kicks part of the debris with his foot and approaches the communicator) [17]
Governor Grindwell, open the gates! We have retrieved the hyperspace radio and the leaders of the resistance are in our custody.
CHO (V.O.)
Why Captain, we were so very concerned when we heard the explosion.
TRASK
(ironically)
Yes, I can see the thorougness with which your gendarmery investigated the crime scene. The __gate__, Lieutenant Governor.
CHO (V.O.)
Yes, of course. Welcome back, Captain.
the gates roar to life and slide open [18]
ALVARATH
(under her breath)
Be ready for anything.
TRANSITION TO:
INT. EUPHONIAN ENTRY
members of the gendarmery have their weapons drawn and are making significant noise, nearly drowning out the Euphonian ambient music. The music becomes somewhat triumphant as Rogers and Deering are taken into custody. [43~]
CHO
Anthony Rogers and Wilma Deering, I hereby place you under arrest, charged with sabotage and attempting to subvert the recognized and chartered government of the Nergal Colony. Take them away!
(taps the neural interface) [3]
Thank you, Captain. And as happy as we are to be reunited with our ... wayward former colleagues, we must reunite you with ...
(enter Samms)
Your Lieutenant Commander Samms.
of course, Samms now sports a neural interface, which chirps as she speaks [3]. Iskander gasps.
SAMMS
Welcome back, Captain.
(taps the interface) [3]
I have learned much about how Euphonia's history and believe you will find it ...
(taps again) [3]
Fascinating.
(taps again) [3]
I attempted to __contact__ you, but was unable to detect your communicators.
TRASK
Yes, we encountered some ... __pests__ that were attracted to the signal they were generating.
(a beat, to let that sink in)
Tuno, Otto, and Michelle, get that hyperspace radio installed. Tuno, you're the hyperspace communications expert, so feel free to ...
(taps his temple while clicking his tongue twice for emphasis) [19] [19]
Teach Otto whatever he needs to know.
TUNO
Yes, Sir! Understood.
they leave with the radio.
TRASK
Lieutenant Governor Cho, I'll need to be involved in the prisoner's interrogation.
CHO
(taps his interface) [3]
Captain, this is extremely unorthodox and violates several of our---
TRASK
Yes, yes, of course. My mistake.
(a beat)
You know, beyond the application of Societics, which we agree is insufficient for the obvious results you've demonstrated, we were interrupted by the attack. I'm sure the Commonwealth would be interested in the details of how you've implemented ... this.
CHO
(brightening)
Of--of course, Captain! Commander Samms found it ... quite fascinating. I'm sure you will, too, and together we can spread--
(taps the implant) [3]
We can __extract__ what we have learned for possible implementation on other colonies. Working together, I'm sure we we could easily expand the program to other colonies, and even across the galaxy!
(taps again, speaking into the air) [3]
Governor Grindwell, Captain Trask has returned and expresses a further interest in our extensions of Societics!
(taps again) [3]
This way, Captain. I assume that Lieutenant Iskander and Commander Alvarath will be joining us.
TRASK
The Lieutenant has the background to ask better questions than I do, but will need to have Commander Alvarath check on the prisoners.
CHO
(taps again) [3]
Captain--
TRASK
We trust Euphonia impllicitly, of course, but these __are__ dangerous offenders who could easily have harmed my crew.
CHO
(taps again, and again after a pause) [3]
Understandable, Captain. Commander Alvarath, you may travel freely throughout this facility. The security computers have been tuned to recognize your biometric profile as one of our own gendarmery.
(taps again) [3]
But Commander, remember that we __cannot__ allow you to interrogate the prisoners.
(taps again) [3]
And please try not to pollute our culture.
ALVARATH
No worries, Lieutenant Governor. I have no intentions of doing any such thing.
TRASK
See? We make an excellent team, I think.
Valerie, we'll all meet in the Governor's office in thirty minutes. That's enough time to see what needs to be seen?
ALVARATH
Yes, sir.
she leaves.
TRASK
Ready for more Societics, Lieutenant?
ISKANDER
I ...
CUT TO:
## Prison Break
INT. EUPHONIA BRIG
a slowly oscillating whistling sound (and blur, visually) indicates the barrier containing ROGERS and DEERING. Two GUARDS are present guarding the prisoners as ALVARATH enters. [20~]
ALVARATH
Commander Valerie Alvarath of the Challenger to verify the security of prisoners Rogers and Deering. You should have been informed of my approach.
GUARD#1
(taps his implant) [3]
Yes, ma'am. You may examine whatever you like, but may not question the prisoners beyond conversational small talk relevant to the conditions here, nor may you interact with either of us on a personal level, lest you--
ALVARATH
Pollute your culture. I know. So, talking about the weather or the piped music ... ?
GUARD#1
(taps implant) [3]
Out of the question, ma'am.
ALVARATH
Well, then, let's start from the outside in. Should the prisoners escape, how would you stop them?
GUARD#1
(taps implant) [3]
We are armed with remote stunners, ma'am. They wouldn't make it to the door.
ALVARATH
And your armor would protect you from an assault by the escaping prisoners?
GUARD#1
(taps implant) [3]
Yes, ma'am. The gendarmery uniform's polymer structure dissipates most impacts harmlessly.
ALVARATH
Thank you. Prisoners, you have not been mistreated?
DEERING
(deadpan, following the guards' lead)
No, ma'am.
ALVARATH
You have been kept comfortable?
DEERING
Yes, ma'am.
the ambient music suddenly changes, slightly faster and now dissonant. The guards tap their implants several times each and Valerie smiles. [44~] [3] [3] [3]
ALVARATH
And the location of your secret base?
GUARD#1
(approaches Valerie from behind)
Commander Alvarath, we cannot permit you to interrogate the--
over her shoulder, Valerie grabs and throws Guard#1 into the force barrier, causing the sound to increase in volume and become more erratic/less sinusoidal and finally stop. As the guard screams, Valerie takes his stunner and fires twice, knocking out Guard#2. [15] [21] [21]
ALVARATH
(deadpan)
Oh, well, that's definitely going to pollute the culture. How unfortunate.
(typing) [27]
Let's go. The music changing should mean that Tuno has disabled the security recordings and the guards' reaction suggests he found a way to deprogram the Euphonians and Samms.
they drag the guards into the cell and activate the force field. [20~]
DEERING
Tony--nngh--grab the other stunner.
ROGERS
On it, my dear.
TRANSITION TO:
## The Big Reveal
INT. HALLWAY
while they begin to move forward, Wilma stops them.
DEERING
Wait. While we were in the cell, quite a few technicians rushed down this way, implants all a-flutter. [3] [3] [3]
ROGERS
That's right. There's something going on down there and, whatever it is, it's big.
ALVARATH
Lead the way.
they run down the hallway, stunning one guard [21] as they turn a corner and descend a staircase. Soon, they come upon a large window and through it, they see ...
ALVARATH
Oh, no!
## Alternate Act Break for a Five-Act Structure
through the window, if visual, an underground shipyard, with dozens of battleships in various states of construction.
ALVARATH
Cho told the Captain that Euphonia would be happy to expand its program and spread it through the Commonwealth. They mean to spread it through military action!
ROGERS
They can mean what they like, but they won't, if I can help it.
DEERING
Agreed.
CUT TO:
## Following up with the Rest of the Landing Party
INT. RADIO SHACK
no music plays in the room, now, as Samms awakens with her implant removed.
HARKAMAN
Samms--Michelle--are you feeling better?
SAMMS
Yeah, and this being "better" says something about where I was. What in blazes happened?
TUNO
You appear to have been highly susceptible to Euphonia's hypnotic conditioning, and sampling their "Evri-Flave" drink further limited your ability to resist.
SAMMS
(winces)
Throbbing headache, Tuno. Don't make it worse.
HARKAMAN
Evri-Flave slips you a mickey, Samms, and the music is hypnotic.
SAMMS
Better. And the headache?
HARKAMAN
Tuno reverse engineered the algorithm generating the music piped in everywhere and inverted it to deprogram you and the guards following us.
TUNO
An unfortunately crude jolt to your system, but quiteive, given the time constraints.
(an electronic whirring noise begins) [22]
Ah. Commander Harkaman, the hyperspace radio has been successfully installed, but disabled. We will be able to contact the Commonwealth if necessary, but can prevent Euphonia from doing so.
HARKAMAN
Excellent. That'll prevent them from claiming that we or the Challenger have had some accident.
SAMMS
(winces again)
Accident?
HARKAMAN
Euphonia is controlled by an alien technology brainwashing the remaining population. They've turned from defending their secret to talking about expansion, which means they have something planned.
a chime sounds [23]
TUNO
Readings suggest that Commander Alvarath has freed the prisoners, Commander. The Trojan horse we uploaded should keep the central computers from detecting the change for a few minutes.
HARKAMAN
Michelle, it's time to move. Ready?
SAMMS
I'll manage, sir.
she groans as she gets on her feet.
CUT TO:
## The Threat Becomes Immediate
INT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
unlike the previous two scenes, the peaceful music still plays in Grindwell's office. Cho stands behind Grindwell and Trask and Iskander are seated opposite them. [45~]
TRASK
Well, Governor, amaze me. Lieutenant Governor Cho informs me that you believe you can extract the lessons learned from implementing Societics and ... share your findings with the rest of the Commonwealth.
GRINDWELL
(taps her implant, and it stays operational) [3]
Indeed we can, Captain. We are nearly ready to do so, in fact, and are sure that the Commonwealth will soon join us in our absolute harmony.
TRASK
Oh? And how do you intend to do that without ... how have you put it, polluting your culture?
CHO
Well, other cultures will no longer be relevant.
ISKANDER
The Commonwealth __protects__ local cultures, Lieutenant Governor. Our diversity has only made us stronger.
GRINDWELL
The Commonwealth will no longer be relevant, Lieutenant Iskander.
(a chime sounds)
Captain, you asked how we will protect our culture from the pollution of yours. We shall use your ship, the Challenger.
TRASK
My crew will never bend to your will.
GRINDWELL
Either choice is ... acceptable. They will either be the vanguard of the Societics movement or they will be a __warning__ to those we encounter.
(a rumbling noise begins distantly)
Euphonia's fleet is coming on-line, Captain, and we will spread Societics to the far reaches of this galaxy and beyond!
TRASK
(pulls out a Lewiston [1] and destroys the robot Grindwell [2] [6]; Iskander follows his lead and destroys the robot Cho [2] [5])
I had hoped to keep him talking more __before__ we learned something like this. Let's go round up the others; we need to shut this down!
they run out the door as alarms sound throughout the city. [25]
===
# Act IV
## Back on the Ship
INT. CHALLENGER BRIDGE
has seen better days, but the crew is still functioning even under attack. Sections of "Mars, Bringer of War" play in the score, matching the beats of the battle. [49~]
KINNISON
(trying to get everything out at once, and typing at the same time) [27~]
All damage control crews report to your assigned stations immediately. Ravenhurst, find us a clear shot at that thing. Hua, Challenger can take a beating, so let every shot count. Sick bay ... hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
RAVENHURST
Aye, sir, coming around. From their behavior, it looks like there's a narrow tunnel where weapon and visibility coverage aren't ideal for them.
HUA
Praise to the lowest bidder. In position, and ... go!
effects of shots being fired [2], followed by a rumble [29] and the sound of debris hitting the hull.
HUA
Direct hit, sir. We're in the clear!
CHALMERS
Oh, not quite ...
COMPUTER (V.O.)
Challenger, you have chosen not to leave. So be it.
RAVENHURST
Reading __three__ bogeys, incoming!
KINNISON
Evasive maneuvers!
engine sounds throb as explosions sound. [5]
COMPUTER (V.O.)
Challenger, be advised that immediate-term plans have been revised. You are no longer obliged to leave Euphonian space. You will join Euphonia's fleet in spreading harmony throughout the Interstellar Commonwealth and the galaxy, or you will be destroyed as an example to such.
KINNISON
The Hell we will. Mr. Gordon, scan the approaching ships.
GORDON
They seem the same as the others. No life signs. Possible leakage on all engines slowing them down slightly.
KINNISON
Drone ships, and they're rushing them out to stop us. Ravenhurst, Hua, take them out.
HUA
Yes, sir.
CUT TO:
## Comparing notes
INT. EUPHONIAN HALLWAY
running footsteps indicate Trask and Iskander looking for the rest of the group. The brainwashing music still plays, though quieter. Also in the background are occasional rumbles, the launching of another ship. [46~] [24] [29]
ISKANDER
Captain, the Challenger?
TRASK
Kinnison comes from a long line of distinguished military officers, Lieutenant. He's raw, but he can handle a few robot ships, but we do need to cut off the supply before too many launch than he can keep up with.
from around the corner, Tuno, Harkaman, and Samms arrive.
TRASK
Samms, are you all right?
SAMMS
Yes, sir. I've been deprogrammed.
TRASK
Glad to have you back. But of more immediate concern, Tuno, flip the switch now.
TUNO
Yes, sir. Remodulating music to counter-algorithm ...
he begins typing at a console, but a guard enters from behind, stun device raised. [27]
GUARD#1
(different guard, but the voice is irrelevant)
Halt! You are under arrest!
TRASK
I am Captain Lucas Trask of the Challenger, representing the Interstellar--
the music changes and the Guard shrieks and falls to the ground. [47~]
TUNO
Done! The entire city is now being deprogrammed.
HARKAMAN
That leaves the androids.
another rumble as a ship launches in the distance. [29]
TRASK
And the handful of robot ships attacking the Challenger. That was the sixth I counted.
ISKANDER
The fake Grindwell indicated that the goal was to take and brainwash the crew as advance scouts, or destroy the Challenger if that's not possible.
HARKAMAN
And drone ships are probably controlled from down here.
TUNO
Very likely, at least for coordination in Nergal's orbit. And Captain, the slow rate of launch would appear to imply that the ships are not entirely complete.
TRASK
Or they only have a few and are hoping to wear Challenger down before running out.
ALVARATH
(arriving from around the corner with Rogers and Deering)
No, Tuno's right, Lucas.
TRASK
(momentarily brightens)
Valerie!
ALVARATH
There are hundreds of those ships, back there, with plenty of space to launch. The rate must mean that they're rushing.
HARKAMAN
Cutting communications, they couldn't have planned for our arrival exposing them.
ISKANDER
Can we warn Challenger?
TRASK
Probably not. We stashed our communications equipment too far away, to evade any tracking from Samms--
SAMMS
Sorry about that, by the way ...
TRASK
By definition, not your fault. And you and Tuno disabled the hyperspace radio when you hooked it back up again, yes?
TUNO
Correct. Any communication tied into the city's systems would risk the Euphonians piggy-backing on our signal to infiltrate the Challenger.
TRASK
Kinnison's a good kid, and he'd probably only resent our warning him about what he almost certainly already knows.
(a beat)
All right, we're going to need to disable their drydock operation to stop them from launching ships and we need to knock out the city's central computer to put an end to this.
DEERING
Rogers and I are at your disposal, Captain.
TRASK
Thank you. Samms, Tuno, and Iskander, you're with me. Between us, we should be able to stop a computer from working. Otto, the others have seen the drydock. Help them make a mess.
HARKAMAN
With pleasure, sir!
TRASK
Let's go.
they split up into two teams.
CUT TO:
## The Battle Intensifies
INT. CHALLENGER BRIDGE
the increased number of enemy ships is taking its toll on the inexperienced crew and the Challenger itself. Kinnison tries not to sound stressed as explosions sound around him. [5]
CHALMERS
Commander Kinnison, the Kiu-Han ship has left.
KINNISON
Probably detected the activity.
Hua, hold fire. Ravenhurst, let's back off. Defensive posture only. This is getting us nowhere.
HUA
Yes, sir.
KINNISON
There has to be a better way to deal with this. They're controlled remotely. Chalmers, can you confuse the signal they're using?
CHALMERS
On it, Commander. At the very least, I can slow down their decision-making.
KINNISON
Good. Ravenhurst, you've been tracking the ship movements, I assume.
RAVENHURST
Yes, sir. And I've been working on a theory, but haven't had the opportunity to think it through.
KINNISON
Give it a shot.
RAVENHURST
There's something about the movements and attacks.
(swooping noises at her console as she waves her arms over it) [28]
I don't see any repetition or pattern, as such, but there's a __feel__ to it that's ... interesting. Almost like a recurring idea that's slightly different every time.
CHALMERS
Like a motif?
KINNISON
Mr. Chalmers?
CHALMERS
Euphonia literally translates as "good sounds," and the city was founded as a so-called "Musical City" by Grindwell and Berlioz. Well, composers often integrate motifs--short musical ideas--into works.
RAVENHURST
That--that's brilliant! Projecting their movements into ... five dimensions, I think, and then projecting down into a quantized two-dimensional musical space, and--
alien music erupts from the speakers, neither controlling sounds of Euphonia, but something very odd. [51~]
RAVENHURST
I think that's it, weird as it is. Sort of catchy, now that I see the math behind it.
KINNISON
As a pilot, can you--
RAVENHURST
Jam with the band, as they used to say? My father paid enough for music lessons that I think I can.
the explosions lessen.
KINNISON
Working with them instead of against them. Amazing. Hua, resume firing at will.
RAVENHURST
Feeding you a probablistic time signature and sample rhythms to try.
the music becomes intense and returns to a Mars-sting.
CUT TO:
## Stopping the Dockyards
INT. EUPHONIA DRYDOCK
an enormous area buzzing with mechanical activity, with a gate in the ceiling. An occasional human moan is heard. [30]
HARKAMAN
All right, what do we know?
ROGERS
The spacecraft are generally laid out in blocks of nine. We believe they were being worked on in parallel until the Challenger was deemed a threat.
a launch.
DEERING
And now they seem to be working on one at a time, just to launch as many as possible.
ALVARATH
And the human workers have all been disabled, for the moment, by Tuno's reversal of their brainwashing process, which means that the only workers down there are--
blaster fire interrupts. [2]
COMPUTER
Stop the intruders!
HARKAMAN
The androids. Right. Defensive positions!
DEERING
I still have my jumper-belt. Tony, follow my lead.
an engine warms up and Deering leaps away as the rest start firing. [26] [31]
HARKAMAN
What?
ROGERS
Short version? Our gang's camp has a small cavorite deposit, so it doesn't take a large engine to provide enough lift for a person.
HARKAMAN
Do what you need to do. Ready, Valerie?
ALVARATH
They're covered.
TRANSITION TO:
INT. CATWALK ABOVE
clanging noises follow Deering as she moves along the catwalk and picks up a large tool. [32]
COMPUTER (V.O.)
Three. Two. One.
one of the ship engines fires up and, once it leaves the ground, Deering begins sprinting down the catwalk. [29] [34]
DEERING
(shouting)
Tony, now!
she lands with a thud on the rising ship and immediately starts tearing it apart with the tool and a blaster pistol. [32] [35]
TRANSITION TO:
INT. CONTROL PAD
fighting androids [2] [21], Rogers is pushing to a control panel. Alvarath rushes them, shooting [2], knocking out the androids.
ROGERS
Thanks, Valerie!
ALVARATH
My pleasure, Tony.
ROGERS
Now to close the gate ...
keypresses result in an overwhelming mechanical sound as the roof-gate closes. Within seconds, the ship is caught in the closing roof. As it's crushed, Deering descends neatly to the ground. The androids stop firing and their "implants" begin chirping as they're summoned to make repairs. [36] [3] [3]
ROGERS
Nice work, dear heart.
ALVARATH
Indeed it was, Wilma. That should buy the others the time they need and give Challenger some room to breathe.
CUT TO:
## Eliminating computer control
INT. COMPUTER CENTER
banks of lights and chirps [37] are everywhere, as the team works. Tuno, Iskander, and Samms each work at a terminal, while Trask guards them.
TRASK
The androids are withdrawing. The others must have shut down the shipbuilding operation. How are you coming along. We might not have long.
SAMMS
Progress. There are a few layers of security.
TUNO
Captain! Something about these security countermeasures look ... familiar.
TRASK
Later. Right now, the clock's ticking.
TUNO
Understood. Lieutenant Iskander, I'll need you to monitor the firewall for intrusions. The program appears to be aggressive and may attempt to infect our computers.
ISKANDER
On it, Commander. You're right, it's very intrusive.
SAMMS
I think you have it on the run, Tuno. The code seems to be retreating to that empty module that looks patched on, maybe its original container.
TUNO
Unfortunately, I cannot penetrate the container's intrusion countermeasures.
TRASK
This, I think I can help with. Stand back?
he draws his Lewiston [1] and destroys the module [2]; a faint scream is heard under the explosion. [6]
TUNO
That ... works. It will make it difficult to study, however.
SAMMS
Here's something else that might've made it hard to study: There was a signal line coming off of the module, and it appears to be connected to the power grid.
ISKANDER
It was going to destroy the city rather than give up control.
CUT TO:
## Goodbyes
INT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
still charred and disordered. Deering now sits at Grindwell's desk with Rogers standing at her side.
TRASK
I suspect that the Commonwealth will accept you as the head of the provisional government, once our reports are filed.
DEERING
And if they don't, contrary to the name, most gangs were led well enough that there are plenty of people who can do the job. Thank you for saving our world. We can now return to using statistics and measurement as a tool in our decision making, rather than as the decisions.
SAMMS
A sound plan. Rules and data are useful tools, but they also allow the creators' biases to hide as objectivity.
DEERING
Yes, and an unknown bias could have destroyed Euphonia and declared war on the Commonwealth.
TRASK
Speaking of which, Tuno, you mentioned a familiar aspect to the software.
TUNO
Indeed. I can make no guarantees, but it may have borne some similarity to the program that enslaved my homeworld until the crew of the MK-31 destroyed it.
HARKAMAN
Wasn't that when your parents met?
TUNO
Yes, Commander.
TRASK
What of the remaining ships?
ROGERS
Our plan is to isolate their computers in case the controller has stashed any copies. But otherwise, this has proven that the Nergal system needs defense and a shipyard would force Euphonia to interact with the rest of the Commonwealth after so long apart.
DEERING
(shaking Trask's hand)
We'll try not to pollute __your__ culture.
ALVARATH
Regular check-ins, Governor Deering ...
===
# Button
INT. CHALLENGER BRIDGE
the situation has returned to normal activity, and Kinnison is giving up command to Trask. The score is from Holst's "Venus." [50~]
KINNISON
Welcome back, Captain. I think you'll find that the ship is in one piece.
TRASK
And yet, I clearly remember instructing you __not__ to burn things down.
KINNISON
Yes, well, sometimes these things can't be helped, sir.
SAMMS
Nice work, Al.
TUNO
Agreed.
KINNISON
The crew and I are humbled.
SAMMS
Sure you are, old buddy. Sure you are.
TRASK
(settling into his chair)
Well, from the sound of things, you'll be ready to sit in this chair full time.
Heh.
In more ways than one.
Ensign Ravenhurst, set course for the Tanith colony.
RAVENHURST
Yes, sir. Course set and Challenger is leaving Nergal Four orbit. We will reach the local beacon in ninety seconds from ... now.
an atonal throbbing sound begins. [38~]
TUNO
Captain Trask!
TRASK
Yes, Tuno.
TUNO
From the data recorded by Lieutenant Hua and Ensign Chalmers, it appears possible that not all craft launched from Euphonia have been accounted for.
HARKAMAN
Are you suggesting--?
TUNO
Indeed, Commander. A smaller, probe-like device appears to have launched along with one of the drone-controlled ships. But instead of confronting the Challenger with the others, it continued outward.
HARKAMAN
What heading?
TUNO
The best estimates I can manage with so little information would send it out to the Kiu-Han border and project its destination to planets just inside Kiu-Han space.
HUA
That might explain the Kiu-Han ship we detected shortly before the attack and left before detecting us, if it was coordinated with the probe.
HARKAMAN
Are the Kiu-Han using the technology or are they controlled by it?
TRASK
Either one--or the possibility that this is just a coincidence--is unpleasant. But for the moment, if it's in Kiu-Han space, it's officially not our problem. I'll note it in my report and Exploration Command can decide how to proceed.
HARKAMAN
And it's pretty clear that we're not going to roll over for this program, whatever it is.
TRASK
Very true. We might make it through this, yet, Otto.
RAVENHURST
Prepare for submersion into hyperspace.
the ship whooshes away. [39]
## FADE OUT
title card reads, __Next Episode: This World Is Taboo__
## Closing credits, over Gustav Holst's "Thaxted" [41]
Additional Score
In addition to the Holst pieces and Combs/Is pieces excerpted, Armageddon also uses several randomly generated pieces of music. The genmusic.js script produces the following CSound files.
Name
File
Societics Exposition
Back to Euphonia
Deprogramming
Office Chat
Remnants
City-Wide Deprogramming