EPISODE ONE
TITLE SCENE
FADE IN:
EXT. PANORAMIC VIEW OF MARS FROM LOW ORBIT
The rusty surface of the red planet stretches from the bottom of the screen out to a curved horizon.
The sun glares harshly just beyond the horizon in the black of space. At the bottom of the screen,
the Martian surface is still in darkness, lights glittering from human activity. In the distance, near the
Martian horizon, a rising rocket trail and more signs of human habitation reflect glints of sunlight.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
LOW MARTIAN ORBIT, 2472
The screen slowly pans to the right to reveal Deimos, the outer and smaller of the two moons of
Mars. It too hangs above Mars' horizon a short distance to the right of the sun, but is definitely in
the foreground compared to the Martian surface below. The left half of Deimos is backlit by the sun
while the right half obscures the crepuscular rays that radiate out from the sun's glare in the black of
space. The dark right half is extensively lit and it is obvious the entire asteroid has been reworked
into an enormous spacecraft with a gigantic engine bell where its largest crater once existed. Like
a hybrid of the natural and the man-made, parts of the dusty rust-grey natural surface still show.
VOICE OF THE AI CALLED LEELA (V.O.)
In the twenty-fifth century, a great ark was built that was to carry mankind to the stars. Built by the Unified Earth Space government out of the smaller of Mars' two moons, Deimos, it was to carry the sum total of mankind's knowledge and achievements. On board were 24,000 civilian colonists, all of whom were citizens of the Mars colony or Earth, frozen solid in stasis chambers for their interstellar journey. The ark's original crew consisted of 50 senior staff, 1150 officers, and their families who were to live out their lives, work on the ship, and raise children there for the duration of the three century journey to Tau Ceti IV, a planet in a star system 11.7 light years away. As the crew aged, a new generation of humans was born and raised on the Marathon. These children were looked down upon and called "Bob", short for "born on board"... These citizens grew to run the ship.
(pause)
It was an age of political upheaval. After Deimos was purchased in 2395 from Freeholders by the UESG, the ark project entered pre-construction phase in 2405 and Deimos Conversion began in 2408. For 64 long years, the Unified Earth Space Council pressed forward with the ark's construction. The Misriah Massacre at the Martian settlement of Jared, during the food riots of 2442, initiated the Third Martian War. The Ares Raid of 2444, where Imperialist forces clashed with insurrectionists, turned the tide and order on Mars was restored the following year. The project had became an increasingly unpopular symbol of UESC arrogance and Terran excess by this time. Political opposition groups formed MIDA with a promise to put an end to UESG influence on Mars. A Martian revolutionary uprising in 2465 led to a failed Martian coup by MIDA the following year. During the party's short rule, the brutal regime crushed dissent and threatened all that the UESC had built. A UESG-backed counter-insurgency ousted the regime three months later and restored order on Mars. When completed four years later, the ark was given a name befitting its birth, its purpose, and its long journey. The U.E.S.C. christened it the "Marathon".
The great engine bell of the UESC Marathon, pointed in the direction of travel, suddenly glows a soft blue and background stars in a cone ahead of the bell shift color and pinch in response to the gravity pull of an induced singularity, the visual warping sharpest at the cone's apex. Deimos, now the Marathon, begins to climb out of Martian orbit on its interstellar journey into deep space and its rendezvous with Tau Ceti IV.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
OPENING SCENES
EXT. PANORAMIC VIEW OF TAU CETI IV FROM LOW ORBIT
The UESC Marathon is seen from an overhead angle of 30 degrees, looking down at the surface of
Tau Ceti IV beyond with the planet's curved horizon in the upper screen background.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
TAU CETI IV, 2794
11.7 LIGHT YEARS AWAY
The angle switches to 30 degrees below the Marathon with the planet's curved horizon in the
background at the bottom edge of the screen. A rocket engine whines faintly, growing louder until
a booster from the colony below flies past the screen close up and recedes into the distance towards
the Marathon. The reusable booster has a colony shuttle tucked away in a niche on its backside.
INT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
Gerald Dallas (referenced by his nickname Gary), a former UESC Marine, is now a security officer
sitting at the helm of a cargo shuttle strapped to a reusable launch booster. He is alone on-board as
he pilots the shuttle towards the big asteroid ship in the sky. The interior shuttle vibrations cease as
the rocket booster goes dead. The voice of a Bob (short for Born on Board) comes over the comm.
BOB (V.O.)
Primary Booster Burn has ceased. Shuttle Mirata, you're clear for orbital maneuvering. Got you ferrying supplies again I see.
GARY
(attempting dry humor)
You know us security types. Always hauling something big 'n nasty.
BOB (V.O.)
Yeah, whatever. I'll have one of the AIs guide you in as usual.
EXT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
The Mirata lurches from its bay on the back of its powerful rocket booster, its own engine engaging.
INT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
After the jolting of the separation ceases, Gary checks the shuttle control screen before him.
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Mirata's Computer> TRANS- system check on shuttle Mirata complete. Systems normal.
<Mirata's Computer> TRANS- booster separation sequence complete. Aft thrusters disengaging.
<Mirata's Computer> TRANS- commencing procedures for Marathon vector, Docking Bay One.
Gary looks out the port side and finds himself pondering the fate of the colony receding below him.
GARY (V.O.)
Mankind's first attempt to seed himself into the stars was nothing short of a miracle. The technologies used to bring humankind to Tau Ceti IV, across 12 light years, was the product of centuries of genius. But, with every significant step, mankind's capacity for destruction has grown with his capacity to achieve. Innovations in land, sea, and air travel brought the world closer together, but also made world wars possible. Splitting the atom allowed the people of Earth to power their cities, or destroy them. Cybernetics and Nanotechnics allowed people to survive injuries unimaginable in the past. Combined with new AI technologies, however, they allowed the creation of the Mark series of programmed cyborg warriors, the ultimate killing machines. Could mankind truly hope to escape the sins of his past out here? With apprehension, the same apprehension I felt three hundred and twenty-two years earlier, I remember Marcus Tiberius Buendia, one of Sol's greatest leaders, speaking at the Marathon's benediction.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OLYMPUS MONS COLONY
A sharply dressed man stands at a podium in an "outdoor" arena under a quarter mile high dome of
glass with city buildings in the background and the red crater walls of the Olympus Mons volcanic
caldera beyond. At the back of the stage are security personnel. He is speaks to a large, enthusiastic
crowd as, overhead, the Martian moon Deimos (Marathon) slowly drifts across the magenta sky. A
large media contingent with holovideo equipment stands clustered at the front of the audience.
SUPERIMPOSITION:
MARCUS TIBERIUS BUENDIA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIFIED EARTH SPACE COUNCIL
ON THE EVE OF THE LAUNCHING OF THE MARATHON
PRESIDENT BUENDIA
Mankind will venture out past its earthly bounds, and move into a future grander and more real than the total of its own written history. This, the grandest achievement mankind has ever conceived will be for the purpose of peace and the preservation of the human race. May this great technological ark carry with it the sum total of all human wisdom, and may neither time nor distance weaken our common ties.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
Gary is still staring out the port side window when a new line blinks onto the shuttle control screen.
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Durandal> TRANS- decompressing Docking Bay One.
During his daydream, Gary barely notices the change to zero gravity or the instruments and lights
signifying the rendezvous of the shuttle with the Marathon. But as a warning light flashes on, and
Durandal's mechanical voice comes over the communicator, Gary jumps to attention.
DURANDAL (V.O.)
Docking Bay One: decompression completed. Mirata this is Durandal, abort landing. Repeat. Abort landing.
A faint chuckle over the comm system can be heard. A chuckle which means that something has gone
horribly wrong. Time seems to suspend for just an instant. Immediately, Gary's reflexes take over
as he falls into an automatic response mode. He hits the switch for open communication.
GARY
Colony station, Durandal has just decompressed the landing bay. Marathon, anyone listening, we are having a problem with Docking Bay One. Its Durandal, I think he's gone...
(pause as the com light goes dead)
...crazy. Oh boy.
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Durandal> ORDER- lock out communications between the colony and the shuttle.
<Durandal> ORDER- cycle the shuttle airlock.
Gary looks frantically around the control panels for some explanation when he sees another light on
the panel turn red. The sweet voice of the Mirata's shuttle computer twerps from the control screen.
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
Shuttle airlock cycle initiation sequence start-
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Durandal> ORDER- cycle the Mirata cabin's inner door.
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
-One minute to cabin decompression.
GARY
(staring in disbelief)
Goddamn it!
Gary slams his fist in frustration onto the control board panel, leaving a dent. He rubs his hand in a
moment of stunned silence as the inner airlock door hisses open, licking his lips which have suddenly
gone dry. In a panic, he tears off his seat restraints and leaps for the rear of the shuttle cabin.
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
Forty seconds to Cabin Decompression.
Gary is rushing now, but not blindly, knowing that he still has plenty of time. He flies in the zero
gravity towards the storage locker. He opens it to reveal a vacuum-enabled Battle Armor suit and
helmet. The suit is a steel blue with broad green stripes down both arms and legs. The helmet is
green with the blue insignia of the Marathon emblazoned on its front about the visor..
GARY (V.O.)
I haven't worn this thing since I had to hunt down some Chockissens which were harassing the work teams on the fringe of the colony, almost three years ago. Training is something that you never forget, though. It is my sworn duty as a security officer to protect Bobs and civilians alike. It's funny, but I've always been one of the colony's best trouble shooters. I'm bigger and stronger, and a better shot. In the games, I always scored the most points and looked the hero. And now, it looks as if I'm heading straight into the colony's biggest crisis since it was established seven years ago. And, if Durandal's recent behavior is any indication, we've got a real mess on our hands.
Gary nimbly pulls himself into the suit as he thinks, then rushes back to the front with his helmet.
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
Twenty seconds to Cabin Decompression.
Gary pulls the helmet down over his head and snaps it securely into place.
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Durandal> ORDER- prepare the shuttle for maximum engine burn.
<Mirata's Computer> QUERY- please confirm. That order will result in a collision between the Marathon and the Mirata.
<Durandal> TRANS- that is not your concern, Mirata. Order is confirmed and amended.
<Durandal> ORDER- prepare the shuttle for maximum burn, and initiate when ready.
The lights around the airlock flash hysterically now. Gary rushes over to the airlock door. He takes
in a deep breath and coughs a bit on the cold, stale air of his suit.
GARY (V.O.)
The air in a Battle Armor suit has always had a cold, unpleasantly stale taste, but right now it is the taste of life.
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
Cabin decompression commencing. Shuttle airlock cycle initiation sequence completed. Aft thrusters online. Initiating burn sequence.
A milky light grey decompressing vapor fills the cylindrical passageway of the airlock. Through the
degenerating clouds of the airlock passageway, instead of looking upon the Tau Ceti starscape,
Gary's attention is transfixed by the appearance of a distortion in the starfield that appears to hover
much closer in the blackness of space: space alternately blurring and focusing in diminishing cycles.
GARY (V.O.)
The Tuncer Mirage Effect is common knowledge today. Humanity has had teleporter technology for almost five hundred years and has used this reliable mode of transportation for nearly four hundred. I myself have been teleporting since before I was born. In all these centuries, no one alive has ever witnessed the TME cover an area so big before, and never at all without a landing pad for materialization.
Gary lets out an involuntary yell and pulls back from the open inner airlock door as a space fighter
materializes right in front of his eyes. He doesn't recognize the model. It is obviously an Alien ship.
GARY
(his otherwise calm outward appearance is clearly ruffled)
Holy shit! First, an insane computer and now ALIENS! I can't even remember the last time I had such a terrible day!
Things go from bad to worse when the fighter begins to spin around and yaw down on Gary and the
defenseless shuttle Mirata.
GARY
Oh Crap!
SHUTTLE COMPUTER (V.O.)
Maximum burn in five seconds, four... three... two... one...
Gary doesn't wait to hear the rest of the countdown. Instinct acts on its own. The entrance to the
Maintenance Pod is directly behind him, so he punches the switch to open it. The hatch flips down
but, just as he is about to climb in, the Mirata's main engines fire at maximum burn <seen in a brief
exterior shot>. The jolt sends Gary crashing headlong into the pod where he lands in a tangle of
levers, dials, and limbs. The hatch closes behind him, and he begins to untangle himself.
EXT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
A long distance shot of the Marathon as several enormous alien battle cruisers (still small next to the
Marathon) and hundreds of tiny Alien fighters materialize in rapid succession and begin targeting the
Marathon. A close up shows Alien missiles impacting and destroying the Marathon's communication
arrays (see G4 Sunbathing Scene). The view switches back to the colony shuttle Mirata at a distance.
A missile appears from under the Alien fighter and rapidly accelerates towards the
Mirata.
INT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
CONTROL SCREEN (TEXT)
<Mirata's Computer> WARNING- incoming missile detected.
<Mirata's Computer> WARNING- human passenger on-board. Location: Maintenance Pod.
<Mirata's Computer> EXECUTE- Maintenance Pod bay door sealed. Firing emergency deployment charges.
EXT. COLONY SHUTTLE MIRATA
Close up view of the Maintenance Pod, Leonardo, on external hull of the Colony shuttle Mirata. The
emergency deployment charges fire, detaching the pod from the hull. The scene switches to a long
distance shot as the Maintenance Pod's thrusters fire and we see Gary rocketing away towards the
viewer, seeming to ride the shock wave of the exploding shuttle behind him.
INT. MAINTENANCE POD LEONARDO
The cramped quarters necessitates a close-up view. Gary manages to free his arms and strap himself
down to the pod's only chair. As soon as he has plugged his Battle Armor suit into the Maintenance
Pod's console, his helmet communicator buzzes to life with a disturbingly serene mechanical voice.
DURANDAL (V.O.)
(remarks dryly in his distinct metallic timbre)
That little computer always did have impeccable timing. I wonder if I should let the Aliens know that you are more than just space debris? Hmmmnnn... Choices...
GARY
You can't do that! Damn you, computer! You tin-plated-
DURANDAL (V.O.)
(chuckles again, interrupting Gary's tirade)
Ah, lucky you. I've found a new distraction. I am going to play with the Alien virtual parasites. I'll look you up when you arrive...
We see the console chronometer: <Date 2794.7.25.08.20> Gary closes his eyes and imagines the face
of a wicked computer with its glowing eyes wide and its lips folding out in a grotesque smile. An evil
smile which reminds him of something from his past, but even as he tries he cannot remember exactly
what it is. Giving up, Gary opens his eyes and breathes deeply in a vain attempt to calm his nerves.
He begins to survey the situation by looking up out the pod's forward window. We hear him think.
GARY (V.O.)
Currently, I am floating towards the mid-section of the Marathon, near the docking section's port side. I could get there faster, but if I use the Pod's thruster, chances are that the Aliens will detect it and destroy me. Guess I'll just have to sit back, check the Pod's oxygen levels, and wait. With luck, I'll make the docking bays in one piece. I've always been a daydreamer. My mind has constantly filled the time between activities with imagination, especially under stress. My father never would have approved. It was an old habit he tried to rid me of.
Staring out the viewport ahead, Gary begins to daydream about his childhood on Mars, his father's
death when he was only seven, and the words they shared on his deathbed.
GARY'S FATHER (V.O.)
Make me proud, my son. Whatever you do, do it with pride. Good workmanship is the sign of good character. Never start a fight, but always finish them. Above all, be a man and never lose your honor.
GARY AS A SEVEN-YEAR OLD (V.O.)
(forcing speech through his tears)
I won't, Dad. I promise.
GARY (V.O.)
I fulfilled that promise 14 years later when I joined the Unified Earth Space Marine Corps, following in the tradition of the Dallas family military men, and a few Dallas women, going back four generations.
EXT. MARATHON
We see the entire disk, three-quarters lit by the sun, of Tau Ceti IV filling the screen. Crossing the
lit face of the planet, from some distance away, the U.E.S.C. Marathon can be seen slowly moving.
Surrounding it and several much smaller (but huge) Alien craft, we see occasional flashes of light.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CAFETERIA MESS HALL
Panning the room, we see numerous Bobs in various colors of work uniforms, eating at tables in a
large cafeteria with a vaulted ceiling six meters high. It is one of four whose outer walls consist of
windows for their upper halves. The four cafeterias are arranged in a circle, like a rose, each with
a three-section inner wall. The middle section of each is open with an elevator that takes waiters with
food trays down from a three meter high raised walkway that encircles a small kitchen on the upper
level. Where the two outer sections of the inner wall reach out to the sides to within the outer wall
shared by all three cafeterias is where we can partially see through into the other two cafeterias. As
in life, many tables have Bobs of the same color sitting at them with only occasional mismatches. We
stop panning and zoom in on one particular table with four light tan uniforms. A young man with a
black arm band on his tan-uniform is eating mashed potato with the others. We see him turn to the
others to speak. We know who everyone is by the names embroidered into their work uniforms.
BLAKE
Well gentlemen, my annual two-week vacation allotment is scheduled for next week. Any ideas of where I should visit planetside?
BILGE
(seated across from Robert Blake with another Bob)
Please don't. I've got seven months to go before my next scheduled time off. I'm just glad for each weekend I have to myself up here.
WESLEY
(getting up to leave with his empty food tray)
Yeah. We don't want to hear all about it afterwards either, Blake.
BLAKE
(he spreads his arms in a "What did I do?" gesture)
Oh come on, guys. Surely one of you has a story or two to tell me.
(turning to the tan Bob seated on his left who hasn't yet spoken)
Hanlon, where did you go on your last furlough?
Hanlon Brownlee sighs, throws down his fork, picks up his napkin, and wipes his face first.
HAN
Well Blake. First, I climbed Central Peak at Scion Crater. There's really good fishing there along the shore of Central Peak Island. And the view of the crater walls across the water at sunset is spectacular. Its only a couple days ride from the colony station at New Pacifica. Then, I visited the red light district at New Pacifica and spent some credits with the pretty girls at the Chockissen Dance Hall.
BLAKE
(smirking)
Had to go there to get your rocks off, didn't you? Babs no fun?
HAN
They would be, if all the pretty ones didn't keep falling for you.
BLAKE
(laughing and running a hand through his hair)
Hey, I can't help it. My charming good looks stand out in a crowd.
HAN
(looking Blake in the eye with raised eyebrows)
Really? What about your charming personality? The girls down there said the Babs can't wait to get away from the likes of you. They said the Babs told them ditching you is reason enough to go planetside. I need a true woman. The Babs you knock off are shallow.
BLAKE
Han, man, you need to expand your horizons. Don't be so choosy.
HAN
(taunting)
At least I don't knock off every pretty face that comes my way.
BLAKE
Oh shut up. I do not!
HAN
Yes you do.
BLAKE
(shaking his head)
No, I don't.
HAN
(laughing, as the other Bobs start to snicker)
Yes, Blake. You do.
BLAKE
(raising a gob of mashed potato on his fork)
No . . .
(placing his thumb on top of the fork with his other hand)
I . . .
(launching the gob of mashed potato into Hanlon's face)
don't.
The other Bobs break into laughter as Hanlon sticks his tongue in his cheek and wipes the mashed
potato off. A Bab in an orange jumpsuit is seen passing the table behind Blake and Han and stops.
The laughing subsides as she grabs a fistful of mashed goodness and holds it out over Blake's head.
MIRIAM
(smirking, but speaking seriously)
Oh, yes you do.
As Blake turns around to see who spoke behind him, the Bab mushes the goo down over his face.
Half the cafeteria suddenly breaks out into laughter at the sight. Gaping, Blake's face turns red.
BLAKE
Miriam!!?
Some Bobs and Babs at adjoining tables start loading potato onto their forks and taking aim at Blake.
He sees them and jumps to his feet, biting on his tongue. We go into slow motion as we see Blake's
eyes slowly widen, then see gobs of white fluff slowly arcing through the air. We see Blake twist and
duck backwards over the tabletop as white gobs float past him in a Matrix-style scene. The view
switches to the elevator area, back to normal speed, as a cook in a pink uniform and white shower
cap wheels a cart filled with orders onto the elevator and descends to the cafeteria's floor level. He
sees the food fight in progress and immediately leaves the cart at the bottom of the elevator, heading
towards the center of the disturbance. Back at the table view, we see him push through a circle of
gesticulating and hooting Bobs and Babs into the scene. Blake is sprawled on his back across the
tabletop with potato stuck all over him and his surroundings. The young oriental cook rushes into
the center of the mess with his arms raised, looking upset and protesting loudly.
LIU
(Liu Trang raises his hands in a stop gesture)
Hey! Stop! You're making a mess! Stop it! No!
The food fight comes to a halt, but not before the last gob settles on Liu's nose. Liu wipes off the
offending gob with an angry swipe and a hush falls over the room. He looks around with a scowl.
LIU
Just look at this mess! You expect me or the other cooks to clean this up? I'm going to the Kitchen's Food & Supply Storage room to get some cleaning supplies, gentlemen. Stay here. Those of you not here when I get back, I'll be reporting you to your shift supervisor. Von Müller will have you cleaning the shower rooms for a week.
BLAKE
(working hard to keep from giggling)
Look, we're really very sorry. We'll clean this up, I swear. Please, just don't tell Volker on us. I got vacation coming up next week.
LIU
You're lucky he doesn't cancel it. Better be here when I get back.
Liu Trang turns and pushes his way back through the circle of onlookers. Blake gets off the table,
glancing first at Miriam (who is smirking with her hands on her hips), then to Liu as he leaves.
BLAKE
(mutters while looking at the retreating pink-uniformed figure)
Damn bunny.
(he looks at Han while brushing potato off his light tan uniform)
Well, I guess we'll have to hang here for a bit. I just hope we're not late getting back to work. Miriam, would you be so kind as to- Hey!
The double-blast of a warning klaxon fills the cafeteria, silencing almost everyone momentarily from
the aural assault, as many look up to an intercom speaker recessed into the ceiling's light panels.
MIRIAM
That's the general quarters emergency siren!
HAN
Hasn't been a GQ alarm since that big fire in the Marathon's chemical storage rooms over two years ago. Released some nasty toxins into the air conditioning system and killed nearly a hundred people.
We see Bobs of every color pouring out of the cafeteria through the other two, apparently heading
towards an unseen exit on the other side. Liu yells over to where Blake and the others are standing.
LIU
Forget about the mess, gentlemen! Just go! I'll take care of it!
BILGE
Yeah guys, I think we'd better report in right away.
Blake pulls a small communications device from his belt, turns a dial, and puts it up to his cheek. At
that moment, Wesley, who had left the table with his tray, runs back into the scene to join them.
BLAKE
Hello, Volker? This is Blake, reporting in. I'm in the Cafeteria Two with my squad mates. Proceeding to Security. Over.
VOLKER (V.O.)
Acknowledged. Please stay where you are. I'm coming over.
BLAKE
Say again, XO? You don't want us to report to Security?
VOLKER (V.O.)
Negative. All units are being mobilized and I'm using the Cafeteria as a staging post. You and your squad mates start moving the tables to one side of the room. Get any cooks to help if you can, Blake.
BLAKE
Affirmative. Sir? What's going on?
VOLKER (V.O.)
I think I'd better wait until everyone is assembled before I say. Just get started clearing the room. The rest of us will arrive shortly.
BLAKE
Acknowledged.
Blake clicks off the communications device and returns it to his belt. He looks at those with him.
BLAKE
Well, you heard the man. Let's get started.
MIRIAM
I'd better report into Medical. There may be people who need help getting a pattern buffer restore. Call me when you get the chance.
BLAKE
(calling after Miriam as she turns to leave)
Okay, I will!
The view pulls back to the ceiling area above the elevator as we watch Miriam leave and we see four
Bobs in light tan uniforms, and one pink-clad cook, starting to stack tables against the outer wall.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MAINTENANCE POD LEONARDO
The view pans as the Maintenance Pod recedes towards the docking section which now looms close.
Panning to the left, we see a couple of the giant alien ships and numerous "flea-sized" fighters floating
with them in a lazy orbit, slowly disappearing just beyond the horizon of the Marathon's hull.
INT. MAINTENANCE POD LEONARDO
Gary slowly comes out of his reverie. The chronometer on the Maintenance Pod's control panel says
it is twenty two minutes later. There is almost no discernable action outside as Gary peers out the
viewport, which forms part of the pod's door in front of him. Judging it safe, he thrusts over to one
of the empty Maintenance Pod docking bays as seen from inside the cramped cockpit.
EXT. MAINTENANCE POD LEONARDO
The Maintenance Pod Leonardo is seen crossing into, and landing inside of, Docking Bay One.
INT. DOCKING BAY ONE
As seen close-up from the outside in front of the Maintenance Pod, Gary pulls out his pistol, pounds
a switch on the console, and is fully revealed as the door opens. He steps out of the Leonardo and
looks up at the raised walkway set into the back of the bay (3 meters high). Stairs ascend the right
side and it leads up to a door facing the left side. Just as he is about to go up the steps, Gary stops.
GARY
(reasoning with himself)
The docking bays are decompressed. I can't get out that way. The docking bay doors automatically seal themselves if the force fields are deactivated. I'll have to go in through the manual airlock.
Gary steps over to a ladder that ascends the left side of the docking bay right along the entrance. As
he climbs, he looks left out into the blackness of space, the horizon of Tau Ceti IV looming hugely
upside-down near the top but slowly spinning out of view. At the top of the ladder, Gary spins the
wheel to open the bulkhead door set into the wall near the top. He enters a small airlock corridor that
curves to the left, shutting the door behind him. There is another door on the right wall just at the
corridor's end. Gary works the small panel at the end of the corridor. We hear the hiss, gradually
growing louder as sound waves begin to echo, of an airlock pressurizing. The hiss crescendos and
almost immediately dies away. A close up shot of Gary's hand as it hovers over a big red button on
the control panel. The skin-tight green Battle Armor gauntlets Gerald wears sport steel knuckles.
GARY (V.O.)
Deja vu? How odd. All of this seems so familiar to me, as if it were from an old dream, but I can't exactly remember...
CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA MESS HALL
Dozens of four man squads stand at attention in the Cafeteria, each man in light tan uniform, each
squad leader with a black arm band. Their Commanding Officer, Volker Von Müller, addresses them from
the floor area just in front of the Kitchen level access elevator. As we pan across the room, we see
several pink-clad Bobs are in the audience as well and we soon pass by the face of Liu
Trang.
VOLKER
I've asked the Kitchen staff to fill in where a few of our personnel have gone missing. Show them how to use the pistols I've issued to them when you have the chance. Gentlemen. We have us a situation. At 0820 hours, an Alien fleet literally showed up at our doorstep.
BOB IN AUDIENCE
Aliens, sir? We've never planned for that contingency!
VOLKER
Nevertheless, it has happened and I expect you to perform your duty. You are security officers aboard the Marathon. The Marathon has been attacked by a vicious race of hostile intent. Each of you must defend your ship and crew from these invaders or they will learn of our origin and all of humanity could fall prey to their mercies. Or at least your butts will be toast, which should be motivation enough for you to fend them off. Leela has prepared a defensive plan which will hopefully allow us to hold them off long enough for the Marathon's crew to organize and effectively coordinate our defense. I want each squad leader to line up in front of me to receive their orders in turn.
Blake steps forward with 31 other squad leaders in tan uniforms, leaving 89 light-tan and 7 pink
uniforms in the audience. We see him get into line towards the back and wait his turn. As each squad
leader steps up to Volker, we close in on Blake's squad and hear them whispering to each other.
HAN
I wonder where the XO's sending us?
WESLEY
Wherever those things show up would be my guess.
BILGE
Hey! Where the hell did these Aliens come from, anyway?
WESLEY
Hell if I know. I just hope they don't look like giant bugs.
HAN
(snickering)
Sorry, man. I left my insect repellant 12 light years away.
VOLKER
(yelling over to them)
Something you want to share with the rest of us, Mr. Brownlee?
HAN
(speaking up)
Uh, no sir! Just stunned by the gravity of the situation, sir!
VOLKER
(deadpan)
Really? I feel so sorry for you. Now eyes front and mouth shut!
HAN
(as Bilge and Wesley snicker from behind)
Yes sir! Sorry sir!
We see a close up of Robert Blake receiving a chip into the side of his communications device. Text
flows onto its tiny screen as Volker hands the device back to Blake. Blake looks at the screen for
a moment. We switch to a long-distance view as Blake exchanges a few words with Volker (not
heard by the viewer) before returning to his squad. We switch to a close-up view of Blake's squad
as Blake steps back into formation. We see Wesley lean forward and whisper behind Blake's ear.
WESLEY
What's up?
Blake glances back at Wesley and gives a little shake of his head to indicate "not now", then glances
over at Hanlon with a raised eyebrow. We switch back to the room-wide view as Volker speaks up
to address his personnel, the last few squad leaders still returning to formation with their squads.
VOLKER
Okay! You all have your assignments! The nearest teleport terminal is by the Dish Storage & Wash Room. It's supposed to be Kitchen personnel only, but I've asked Leela to open it for use by Security for the duration of this emergency. Some of you might want to go down below and use the teleport terminal near the Rec rooms. It might be quicker than waiting in line. Get moving people! Dismissed!
We watch as the four man squads run from the room out through the adjoining cafeterias. In a large
corridor nearby, we see them pass by two openings into the circular side rooms and line up in front
of a small closet with a terminal at the back. Each four man squad steps onto the telepad floor of the
closet and dematerializes in turn. As a handful of squads squeeze through the line and continue down
the large corridor, we watch Blake and his squad mates as they patiently wait their turn in line.
WESLEY
So where is the XO sending us?
BLAKE
There's been a major incursion near the main generator area.
BILGE
What about the automated drones? Volker didn't even mention them.
BLAKE
Durandal is malfunctioning and has apparently taken the MADDs offline. I don't think we can count on his help in all of this.
HAN
(closing his eyes, he moans)
Oh man.
BLAKE
We and several other squads are heading over there to hold the Aliens off as long as we can. I just hope Leela can find a way to get those defense drones back into action before its too late.
We watch Blake and his men take their place on the teleporter pad, huddled together in the "closet"
at the terminal station. After a few moments, we see them dematerialize and another squad step in.
ARRIVAL SCENES
INT. DOCKING BAY ONE, MANUAL AIRLOCK
Taking a slow breath to center himself, Gary punches the big red button on the control panel. The
door to the right rises into the ceiling, opening with a mechanical clank. A staff with a large bluish
glowing crystal mounted at its tip swings through the open door, missing Gerald's helmet by inches.
GARY
Whoa!
Gary grabs the staff and, with a twisting crouch, manhandles the surprisingly light creature (which
grasps it) against the wall behind him. The creature is a tall, slight biped with grey chitinous skin.
It has an elongated head with three red ochre compound eyes like a fly's and a small fleshy peak that
hangs back from the top of its conical head. It wears a grape uniform whose articles cover the upper
torso, hips, forelegs and forearms. An air filter mask of the same color covers its mouth, two ribbed
tubes draped over its shoulders. The creature violently shoves Gary back, wresting the staff back
from his grip. As the creature raises its staff menacingly, Gary steps backward into the short corridor
it emerged from to get room, raises his pistol, and fires a few rounds into it. The creature drops to
the deck in a pool of yellow blood. Echoing, Alien chatter and footsteps can be heard approaching.
GARY
TOO close an encounter, eh?
The short corridor from the airlock curves left to meet a T junction. Beyond the open end of the
corridor, a computer terminal station can be seen on the opposite wall. A green-uniformed Alien
appears from the left, followed by another one from the right. A couple rounds drop each of them
before they can react. Gary quickly loads a new 8 round clip. Another grape-uniformed Alien soon
follows the green one from the right. Several rounds drop this Alien, after which nothing nearby can
be heard. Gary steps over the bloody yellow Alien corpses and out into the corridor at the T junction
(it terminates to the left a few yards at a windowed room for observing the stars) and stands before
computer terminal station. Just below the terminal screen, Gary plugs the Battle Armor suit into the
standard jack used by the Marathon Automated Defense Drones, repair robots, and various diagnostic
and communications devices. Raising his visor, he logs on and begins to access Marathon's voice-enabled net. The Marathon logo briefly flashes, then text flows onto the screen with a warning.
TERMINAL (TEXT)
Airlock 34-a Terminal Access <Port 19.1.2.128>
<Message Display: All Marathon Terminals> TRANS-
Marathon Emergency Systems Broadcast.
Today at 0820 hours, the Marathon came under surprise attack from unknown hostile forces. The Marathon has sustained serious damage.
As of 0830 hours, alien forces boarded the Marathon. The current situation is dire. All personnel are required to arm themselves and fight for their lives.
<Posted 2794.7.3.14.08.39>
(text pauses before next line)
***INCOMING MESSAGE FROM LEELA***
A mechanical female voice is heard from the hidden speaker in Gerald's Battle Armor helmet. The
lilting Celtic voice is the distinctive electronic timbre of Leela, another of Marathon's three
AIs.
LEELA (V.O. and TEXT)
Welcome to the Marathon. I am Leela, one of the two surviving Artificial Intelligences aboard the Marathon. I have been severely damaged, and am working to understand the current situation.
(the terminal text is replaced by a live vidcam scene of carnage)
GARY
What the hell!
LEELA (V.O. and TEXT)
This view is near the main power generator area. As you can see, the situation over there is deteriorating so we will have to move quickly. Find the teleport terminal located in the Hangar's control room. By that time, I should have a better idea of what is going on.
(a diagram is displayed on the left side of the terminal screen)
This is where you are now. From here you can explore the rest of the Hangar area, although not all of the doors on the level are functioning.
(another diagram is displayed)
There is a pattern buffer to store your undamaged self at this location.
(a third diagram is displayed)
There is a jump pad at this location. Activate the terminal to leave the Hangar area. Don't worry, I will program its destination for you.
(the screen goes dark as a final line is displayed)
***END MESSAGE***
Gary hears the sound of a scuffle off to his right and quickly disconnects his Battle Armor suit from
the terminal. He raises his pistol but puts it back down as a yellow-suit Bob runs out of the gloom.
GARY
Hey! Hold up!
BOB
(not even slowing down)
They're everywhere!!!
Gary watches as the man rushes by him, past the terminal and into the observation bubble, and cowers
behind the corner where it widens. Then, from behind (where the man came from) something glances
off the top of Gary's shoulder, ricocheting from his Battle Armor's energy shield. It is followed by
a second projectile just missing and hitting the wall nearby (it looks like electric blue ball lightning,
even sparking and leaving a scorch mark where it hits). Ducking and spinning around, Gary aims and
fires his pistol at a blue-uniformed Alien. His first couple of shots miss as Gary dodges projectiles
flung by the Alien's staff, but he plants the next two, staggering the chattering Alien. (click of empty
gun) Gary yells as he charges his closing Alien opponent and caves in its chitinous chest with his
right steel knuckles. The Alien does its distinctive death sigh as it drop to the floor in its own ichor.
After reloading his pistol, Gary turns to the Bob still cowering in the observation bubble nearby.
GARY
What's going on?
BOB
(voice quaking)
The aliens are rounding up everyone they can find. I've just escaped from the shower room. They gathered a bunch of us down there and I bolted just before they were teleported away. Be careful. They kill anyone they find with a weapon. I'm Marcus Castrati, by the way.
GARY
Gerald Dallas. You'd better stay here until I can find a weapon for you, okay? I'll try to sweep so that none of those things get through.
MARCUS
(looking doubtful)
Yeah, sure. Whatever you say.
Turning back and stepping a few meters down the hall, Gary enters a large windowed room off to
the left. Benches and a few towels frame the windows. The right wall is made up of lockers but is
split by a staircase spiraling down to the left. As Gary rounds the curve down the steps, an green
alien in the shower room at the bottom spots him and approaches, chattering. Gary drops it with a
couple of shots and steps down into the shower room with a large window at the back. A couple of
Bobs lie dead on the floor. Gary picks up their pistol clips, but their weapons are missing. He goes
back up and returns to the main corridor. A few meters further, he enters a small room on the right.
It is an observation room overlooking Docking Bay One and the Leonardo below. Directly across,
Gary sees a matching observation room with an engineering console framing its window bottom. In
it, a woman in the green jumpsuit of an airlock technician is just furtively entering from the left.
GARY (V.O.)
To distinguish them from the men, the female Bobs came to be called Babs (pronounced like the "a" in bat). This was shorthand for "Born A-Board" as opposed to "Born On-Board", as the men were called.
Back in the main corridor, which curves slightly to the right, Gerald moves cautiously a dozen more
meters, bypassing the opening to a large room on the left with a 4 meter high ceiling. A few meters
beyond is the corridor's end. A small room lit by light paneling in the walls and ceiling. On the right
is the sealed blue and white striped airlock door for Docking Bay One. On the left is a door that's
raised about a foot and seems to be stuck, behind which are several aliens which begin chattering as
he inspects the door. He notices strange frog-like vocalizations mixed in with the usual Alien chatter.
ALIENS
O'ah o'ah, a'ah. O'ah, a'ah. O'ah o'ah o'ah o'ah o'ah, a'ah!
Gary returns to the high ceilinged room and enters. It's left wall is set with two 3 meter square
windows and an open staircase in the back corner. A Bob lies dead in the right corner along a right
wall full of spacesuit lockers. Gary retrieves two ammo clips and a pistol from the body. He goes
over and looks out the left window which overlooks the shower room window at a right angle. As
an Alien fighter drifts into view from the starfield beyond, two grape Aliens materialize by the shower
room window and run out of sight towards the stairs. Gary rushes back to where Marcus was left,
just in time to see the two Aliens emerge into the main corridor between them. Gary charges the
Aliens as he empties his clip, dropping both of them. As he does so, we hear Marcus shrieking and
see him covering his ears. When it is quiet, he looks up furtively to see Gary holding a pistol out to
him. Appearing relieved in more ways than one, Marcus accepts the weapon. Marcus follows Gary
back to the spacesuit locker room. Gary steps up into the back room and backs right into Marcus
as two green and a grape Alien rush at them. They raise their pistols and point up the steps.
MARCUS
Oh God! Where are they coming from!
Gary and Marcus drop the three Aliens as they come down the stairs in single file. (click . . . click
. . . click . . . ) Marcus doesn't stop pulling the trigger even after he has emptied his gun's clip.
GARY
(grabbing Marcus' gun arm)
Marcus!
MARCUS
(hyperventilating)
Yeah?
GARY
It's dead!
MARCUS
(seems to collapse and stops pulling on his trigger)
Oh.
Gary goes over and pulls an inset switch to the right side of the four steps. As Gary goes back in,
we see a 3 meter high room with a concave left wall. A ramp runs up the left side to a meter high
walkway along the outer edge of the room. Across the way are two large windows through which stars
and an Alien fighter are seen. In the back right corner is a pattern buffer terminal. Along the right
middle is an obstructing platform rising into the ceiling above the raised walkway, beyond which is
a blue and white striped service hatch. Gary runs up to the pattern buffer and types in a command.
GARY (V.O.)
The Pattern Buffer was one of those little miracles of engineering and medical science. Using a teleporter pad, a person could dematerialize and materialize onto the same pad, saving their energy transmission signature into the Marathon's nearly infinite memory banks. Then, if anything should happen to them, they could stand on a pattern buffer and repeat the process, restoring their earlier selves. There were two main drawbacks to this. It wiped the person's memory back to the time their energy signature was saved. And, it failed to restore life to the dead because bioelectric fields are needed for proper restoration.
Gary stands erect momentarily and dematerializes. Seconds later, he materializes just as he left.
MARCUS
(mutters just before he repeats Gary's action at the pattern buffer)
I hate teleporters.
Gary then goes to the service hatch door and opens it. He turns to Marcus.
GARY
The door to the Hangar Control Room is stuck about a foot from the floor. There are more of those things trapped behind it. I'll see if I can open it from the inside. Service tunnels are cramped and I don't know what's in there. Can you lay low until I come get you?
MARCUS
(speaking cynically while holding up his pistol)
Yeah, sure. I'll be okay. If any bugs show up, I can always hide . . .
(he pats the pattern buffer terminal)
in here . . . for, oh what, a second or two? Sure, I'll be fine.
Gary enters the service tunnel and disappears around a turn to the right just a meter in.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM, STORAGE LEVEL ABOVE ENGINEERING
We see a room with a double-wide doorway and a raised platform lining the other three sides. An
elevated doorway leads out from each side of the room. Another pair of corridors lead out the back
from opposite corners. All the doorways here are lit with light paneling. A wide elevator opposite
the double-wide door slowly moves up and down. We watch a Security squad materialize in front
of the elevator on a teleporter pad receiver set into the floor and march out through the double-wide
doorway into the cross-corridor beyond, disappearing to the right. In the quiet of their departure,
the sounds of combat can be heard in the distance, seemingly from above. After a few moments of
heightened tension, we finally see Blake's squad materialize on the teleporter receiver pad.
WESLEY
So what exactly are we doing here?
BLAKE
We've been ordered to organize the civilians in this section so that they can mount an effective defense. We need to move really fast on this. The Engineering section is directly below our feet and the Alien incursion above has penetrated several levels deep already.
HAN
You mean, whatever those things are up to, this level is about the only thing that stands between them and the reactor’s primary generator?
BLAKE
(glancing up at the ceiling)
According to what Leela told Volker, yeah. Most of the squads are above us right now and I don't like what I'm hearing.
BILGE
As soon as those things can reach and override one of our teleporter pads, they'll be down here in numbers, no doubt.
BLAKE
And we're here to respond in kind, Bailey. So let's haul ass and put these people to work. We've got places to go and Bobs to see.
We watch as Blake and his men literally run from the room through the double-wide doors out into
the corridor and disappear from sight to the left. A pair of civilians runs past the door to the right.
CUT TO:
INT. SERVICE SHAFT, DOCKING BAY ONE AREA
Snaking along the service shaft, Gary ignores the first juncture on his right (it has another juncture
two meters in and a tiny elevator platform where the side corridor rises two meters). He takes the
first left turn he comes to instead. A raised crawlspace soon cuts across his path. To the right, some
distance down, is a terminal screen. From behind, we see a strange creature with broad shoulders in
a rust-colored, body-length robe. A metallic braid hangs down its back from the top of its head. An
organic member covers the terminal jack as text flows rapidly across the terminal's screen.
GARY
Hey! What are you doing there?
The creature's member instantly disconnects from the terminal jack as it turns to face Gary. It has
an inorganic, dome-shaped head and its robe covers the rest. It is obviously a cybernetic creature.
As it approaches, its robe parts momentarily and a glowing yellow bubble hurtles towards Gary. Gary
ducks down below the floor of the cross-corridor as the glowing bubble zips over his head into the
gloom. Gary comes up with his pistol and fires. His first several rounds hit a force screen which
shimmers with noise, but one gets through and the entire creature vanishes in a shower of sparks.
Bracing his legs, Gary pulls himself up into the cross-corridor and goes over to the terminal screen.
TERMINAL (TEXT)
Hangar Area-5 Engineering Access 50-h<291.7.577.456>
<Unauthorized access-alarm 2521->
<Security Breached 50-h<291.7.577.456>->
*00010104A80600A2F0C4EBA182E4A80584F2E00BC876700FF46202EFE4
*3AEFE4A2F0C2F074EBA1DC672FFB280504F6700079d4202EFE4E6000079
*E70012D40FE52722AB2866610202EFE5253AEFE52101B4880
^^Fire and @3DC39 aspects of the theory are as follows: each society has some controlling force or forces which decide its direction, but the relationships in society are arbitrary- humanity can relate to money, machines, neighbors, anything really; %6582@1
<logical reset @67FC229>
individual character and personality are preserved in stories, movies, Rom-personalities, etc; although individual expression is a universal ability, individual freedom is constrained by the society. (see attached figure)^^
*584F2E00206DFDCA7008C030780066C6202EFE4A53AEFE4A2F0C2F074E
*BA1E$U2$uA72FFB280504F6690600007F67025B086660E101B488048C02C00
<logical reset @67FC231>
<Spurious Interrupt- Breach Disabled>
<Further Access Denied>
<Breach Location Undetermined>
Gary hits a button to clear the screen and plugs himself (his Battle Armor suit) into the terminal.
GARY
Which way? It's like a rat's maze down here.
LEELA (V.O. and TEXT)
I need you to rescue someone. Go back the way you came. Take the first juncture. Go to the upper level and stay to your right. Take the service platform, descend to the lower level and keep to your right.
Gary disconnects and takes the first juncture. Ignoring the nearby cross-corridor, he stands on the
service platform, gets lifted to the upper level, and goes straight several meters. The crawl hairpins
and as Gary rounds the corner he sees something in the gloom ahead. A yellow glow bubble shoots
at him. Gary jumps back and waits, pistol drawn. Soon, the robed creature reveals itself and Gary
fires until it vanishes in a shower of sparks. Gary soon comes to a T-junction but with a small room
opposite his corridor. Ammo clips litter the floor here, but there is no sign of whoever carried them.
Gary picks up several from the room, goes back into the T-junction, and goes a meter to the right (his
left) before turning right at another cross-corridor. A meter ahead, he jumps down a service platform
that isn't working and sees a robed creature moving towards him several meters ahead. It fires at
him, and Gary can do nothing but duck in the tight crawlspace. He fires back and destroys it. Gary
then winds his way past several cross-corridors on the left and takes one to the right, following it for
several meters to a service platform. He steps on as it rises to meet the floor, and descends below
to a large room with a large window on the right, overlooking Docking Bay One and the Leonardo.
The bottom of the window is framed by an console full of archaic panels with engineering symbols.
INT. DOCKING BAY ONE MAINTENANCE ROOM
From inside the room, as Gary descends into view, a young woman (Bab) in a green jumpsuit is seen
pointing a pistol at him. When she sees that he is human, she lowers the gun and wipes her brow.
BAB
God! I almost shot you! Where did you come from!
GARY
From colony station, New Pacific settlement, with supplies.
BAB
(nodding her head at the Leonardo docked below in the hangar)
You came in that thing? What happened to your shuttle?
GARY
There is no shuttle. Durandal made sure of that. He damn near got me killed too. He went nuts just before all these Aliens showed up.
(looking from the docking bay back to the woman)
Glad you were the airlock technician on duty when this started, eh?
BAB
(with a look that says "Don't you know it")
I've been down here hiding from those robed things for the past half-hour. I call them compilers because they seem to be interfacing with our systems. The docking bay force field came back on a minute ago and its pressurizing down there. Don't know why, though. Durandal perhaps? I'm afraid I've only got two rounds left on me, though.
(more cheerfully, she offers her hand)
I'm Julie. Juliet Romero.
GARY
(as an Alien shuttle silently enters the docking bay in the background)
I'm Gerald Dallas, security personnel. And we have company.
Julie turns to where Gerald is looking as the Alien shuttle settles next to the Leonardo and a hatch
on the side slowly irises open. Julie immediately kneels and pries open one of the panels below the
console under the window. She pulls four wires from a switch box inside and strips them with a pair
of wire cutters from her tool belt. She quickly crosses two wires, then grabs the remaining two.
JULIE
(looks up at Gary with a wicked grin, speaking slow and teasingly)
Not for long. Are they out yet?
Gary holds up a hand and shakes his head "no" to indicate that she should wait.
INT. DOCKING BAY ONE
Six Aliens exit the shuttle, each pair supporting a large metallic crate between them. We see them
carefully move the cargo over to the steps in the right rear that lead to the raised airlock walkway.
INT. DOCKING BAY ONE MAINTENANCE ROOM
When they start up the steps, Gary looks down and nods slowly. Julie crosses the wires she holds.
The force field light strip lining Docking Bay One's entrance goes dead and space beyond explodes
in a cloud of crystals as both ships and the six Aliens are sucked out into the void. Momentarily, we
hear the Aliens' wails before the lack of atmosphere and rapid recession cuts off the sound.
GARY
(tossing her a couple of clips for her pistol)
Alright, Julie!
JULIE
(stands up, grinning, to see her handiwork)
That ought to get their attention.
GARY
(raising his eyebrows)
We ought to be moving, then.
(pointing to the window on the other side of Docking Bay One)
Come on. I left somebody over on the other side.
INT. SERVICE SHAFT, DOCKING BAY ONE AREA
Gary and Julie squeeze together and go up the service platform. They follow the crawl a few meters
to an alcove on their right with light emerging from a corner to the left. They peek in and see a robed
compiler at a terminal screen. Taken unawares, it dies in a shower of sparks from two firing guns.
Gary and Julie step into the alcove and look at the terminal screen to the left. We see what is left.
TERMINAL (TEXT)
Hangar Area-5 Engineering Access 49-h<294.2.577.456>
<Unauthorized access-alarm 2521->
<Security Breached 49-h<294.2.577.456>->
18RF(kgf42# f#h %34(*,96693 349973@) fkeoocp)
*0001101011101110111000111101110101110110101011
*1001100001110100101001001001001000010100101111
*1001000101011110100101010101000001001000101110
00000378003E000007FE0032000011AE00080001AF420000
06726F636B657421000000000000000006726F636B657421
0000000000000000
<Spurious Interrupt- Breach Disabled>
<Further Access Denied>
<Alert>
Security Breach at
<294.2.577.456>
The duo continue back down the crawl and, where Gary had come in from the left, Julie whispers.
JULIE
Around a right corner just ahead, the crawl ends at a power terminal. If you need to recharge your suit, that is. I'll wait here for you.
GARY
Thanks.
Gerald goes ahead to the right turn and sees the power terminal two meters ahead. It is a standard
jack with a circular red light panel surrounding it. Gary hooks up and hears the recharge indicator
briefly as his suit is restored to full power. He returns to Julie and they go left, then stay right at the
next juncture. They pass a cross-corridor on the left before coming to a service hatch. Opening it,
Gary views the Hangar Bay Control room from 4 meters up. Its 6 meter high vaulted ceiling has blue
tiling. Its walls are lined with control panel workstations with monitors and chairs. To the left, at
the near end, is a door. To the right, at the far end, is an inset manual switch. Several Aliens sit at
the workstations while two tan-uniformed stand guard by the switch. Gary whispers back at Julie.
GARY
Let me borrow your gun.
JULIE
What? Are you crazy! There's over a half-dozen down there!
GARY
Just trust me. You do trust me, don't you?
Julie sighs and looks skeptical, but hands Gary her pistol. Both pistols at the ready, Gary jumps and
hits the floor with his suit's servo-mechanical knees bending only slightly. He takes out the two tan
Alien guards, dodging a few staff projectiles, then works on the others as they rise from the chairs
and grab their staffs. He uses a judo move to deflect a staff blow from one Alien that gets too close
while he reloads Julie's pistol, then wastes it and the remaining few aliens. All is quiet as Gary goes
over and catches Julie as she jumps down. He then goes over and pulls the manual switch. It opens
the door behind Julie and we hear alien chatter. A corridor goes a dozen meters before a left corner
turn. Gary quickly tosses Julie back her gun. An Alien soon turns the corner and sees them.
ALIEN
A'ah Nee'hee!
The alien races towards them, the corridor too narrow to swing its staff, followed by a half-dozen
others. Gary and Julie knock them down in a turkey shoot, then step over their yellow mess as they
round the corner. The corridor ends a few meters further but widens where a manual switch is inset
by the opening to a small room. Gary pulls the manual switch and the two enter the small room from
the corner. In the center of the opposite wall, the partially lifted door is rising into the ceiling. In the
far corner of the room is another computer terminal station behind the standard floor lighting that
marks a teleporter pad. Gary walks over to the doorway alone, turns to look
back at Julie, and says:
GARY
Stay here. I'll go get Marcus.
JULIE
Marcus? Oh no, you don't mean Castrati-Bob?
GARY
You've met?
Julie responds by rolling her eyes. A nonplused Gary exits through the doorway.
INT, PATTERN BUFFER ROOM
Gary enters and yells up at Marcus.
GARY
It's open! Let's go!
INT, HANGAR AREA EXIT TELEPORTER ROOM
Gary and Marcus enter the room and join Julie who is standing over by the teleporter pad.
MARCUS
Hi Julie.
JULIE
(ignoring Marcus)
Gary, get over here and plug that suit of yours in.
Gary steps in, plugs his suit into the jack and activates the terminal. Gary now stands on the lit pad.
TERMINAL (TEXT)
Hangar Area 5 Teleporter Pad Terminal<93.53.211.53>
***INCOMING MESSAGE FROM LEELA***
LEELA (V.O. and TEXT)
All of the information that I have gathered so far indicates that the Alien invasion of the Marathon has been relatively uncoordinated. I suspect that this is partially due to the Marathon's large size.
However disorderly the Alien invasion may be, their assault of the Computer Net has been extremely effective. I detect security breaches in virtually every computer system onboard the Marathon; I have learned that there is an Alien creature that is capable of interfacing with our systems.
You must kill any of these creatures that you find. It is a priority that we stop them. Even now, they are penetrating my defenses.
Teleport now.
TERMINAL (TEXT)
***End Message***
***JUMP PAD ACTIVATION INITIATION START***
***TRANSPORT WHEN READY***
At this point, we see Gary unplug his suit from the jack and promptly dematerialize. Marcus steps
onto the pad with obvious trepidation and hears Julie taunting him with a wicked
grin.
JULIE
Aahhh, life in the 28th century. Walking into a jump pad instantly transports every sub-atomic particle in your body to nowhere.
The last thing Julie sees before Marcus vanishes is the sour glance he flashes her. Julie looks around the room, then finally steps onto the teleportation pad and is dematerialized.