ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE ALPHA CENTAURI A
As before, we open with a shot of the EX-01 encased within the drydock. Unlike the previous times, however, there is no movement upon the hull of Enterprise.
INT. ENTERPRISE - MESS HALL
A PADD in one hand and empty coffee cup in the other, Captain Archer enters the mostly dark dining facility, his eyes glued to the screen of the small data device. He is still wearing the sweats that we saw him in during the previous scene.
It is clearly late - the low level of ship's lighting is immediate proof of that - and he glances around the mess hall, noting instantly a halo of light surrounding a single figure at a distant table. Commander Tucker sits quietly by himself and the table is dominated by numerous clipboards and PADDs; even now, Tucker is scribbling something on one of the clipboards. With a frown, the captain approaches.
ARCHER
Why are you still up?
Trip doesn't even look up from his work and, as we get closer, we can see that he is filling out reports.
TUCKER
Couldn't sleep.
ARCHER
Again?
Trip does look up at that, shooting the older man a sour look as the captain takes a seat.
TUCKER
And there's too many damned reports to fill out. You never mentioned that when I signed on.
(beat, off the captain's smile)
Why are you still up?
ARCHER
Couldn't sleep.
The two men share a smirk before Tucker returns his attention to the reports in front of him.
ARCHER
Just to let you know, I'll be on the Lexington in a couple of hours.
TUCKER
Why?
The captain sighs.
ARCHER
To see if I can't get this General Bernard-
(gesturing to the PADD)
-to rein in Petrov.
Trip looks up, pen frozen in place.
TUCKER
What's the point? Seems to me that if the president sent this Petrov guy, it was for a reason.
Archer appears momentarily troubled as he leans forward.
ARCHER
I ... I don't think the president really knows what's going on here.
TUCKER
(grinning)
Didn't you vote for him?
ARCHER
(with an amused smile)
Shut up, Trip.
Tucker gives the captain a smirk before returning to his reports. For a BEAT, they are silent as they study their respective data before...
TUCKER
Oh ... before I forget again, sign this.
He grabs a clipboard and offers it the captain.
ARCHER
(reading)
Hazardous material disposal?
TUCKER
Whoops. Wrong one.
(beat as he grabs the correct one and exchanges it)
Here.
ARCHER
Request for open flame in crew quarters?
TUCKER
From T’Pol. For meditation candles or something. I okayed it a couple of days ago but haven’t had time to forward it to you yet.
ARCHER
Meditation, huh?
TUCKER
Yeah. According to Phlox, all Vulcans have to mediate daily. Something about keeping their emotions in check.
(beat, amused)
Who knew that they had to work at being so damned annoying?
Archer scrawls his signature on the clipboard.
ARCHER
Weren’t you into meditation once?
TUCKER
Nope. I was into Natalie at the time; she was into meditation.
The two chuckle as Archer hands the clipboard back; the captain then takes a BEAT to study Trip - it’s pretty obvious that the engineer is exhausted.
ARCHER
Trip?
TUCKER
Yeah?
ARCHER
Go to bed. It's after three and those reports can wait until tomorrow.
(beat, off Trip's frown)
See Phlox if you have to but I need you rested.
Trip looks up and studies the captain with narrowed eyes; it's obvious that he ... senses something unsaid.
TUCKER
You expectin' trouble?
ARCHER
Always.
(beat)
But this ...
(beat, as he looks away)
...this whole situation worries the hell out of me. I'm afraid this idiot general is going to get us into a shooting war ...
Trip is silent for a LONG BEAT before finally nodding. They both focus on the starfield beyond the viewport and the scene presses THRU the viewport.
EXT. SPACE
We ZOOM in toward the Lexington as a line of text appears below the warship:
UEM Lexington, CH-24
United Earth Military Task Force Command Ship
Drifting toward an unshuttered viewport, we pass through it and into the ship itself.
INT. LEXINGTON - GENERAL’S OFFICE
To modern aesthetics, the office is small and cramped, but when compared to the captain’s office aboard Enterprise, it is positively luxurious. Surprisingly, the walls are absent of décor with only two notable exceptions: a framed United Earth flag and a flat image of a Martian landscape.
Seated at the desk is MAJOR GENERAL APRIL BERNARD. A formidable-looking woman nearing fifty years of age, she looks to be in excellent fighting shape. A chime sounds, echoing through the small office.
BERNARD
Enter.
The hatch - and it’s clearly a hatch, not a door - opens and a UEM Sergeant enters, ducking his head slightly to avoid the hatch rim. Lurking outside the office is Captain Archer.
UEM SERGEANT
Ma’am, Captain Archer has arrived.
Looking up from the reports on her desk, the general gestures to Archer.
BERNARD
Come in, Captain.
(beat, as Archer enters – he also ducks his head)
Bring us some coffee, Sergeant. How do you take yours, Captain?
ARCHER
Black, no sugar.
The sergeant backs out of the office, pulling the hatch shut behind him, as Archer assumes an uneasy “at ease” position with his hands clasped at the small of his back. Bernard gestures to one of the two chairs in front of the desk.
BERNARD
Have a seat, Captain.
ARCHER
(as he sits)
Thank you.
(off her nod)
This is a nice ship you've got here. I think your office is bigger than my quarters on Enterprise.
The general smiles slightly at that.
BERNARD
Somehow I doubt that. But thank you.
(beat, as they share an awkward smile)
Now, what can I do for you?
For a BEAT, Archer hesitates as he picks his words carefully.
ARCHER
It’s about General Petrov-
At this, the general narrows her eyes and frowns; leaning back in her chair, she crosses her arms as he continues.
ARCHER
I was hoping you could get him to ease up on Cheet.
BERNARD
Ease up?
Her expression reveals her incredulity.
BERNARD
(soft but angry)
The man seized power in a military coup! He should be arrested and thrown in a cell, not “negotiated” with!
Archer's discomfort is obvious; he clearly doesn't entirely disagree with the general about Cheet but also has the benefit of having actually seen the conditions on Alpha Centauri.
ARCHER
That doesn't change the fact that they do have legitimate grievances.
Bearing two cups of coffee, the UEM sergeant re-enters the office. Neither officer notices his presence.
ARCHER (CONT'D)
All I'm asking is that you rein Petrov in a bit ... tell him to actually listen to Cheet's complaints.
BERNARD
(slightly uncomfortable)
President Vanderbilt appointed General Petrov to head these talks, Captain, and I-
ARCHER
(interrupting)
But that's my point! There isn't any talking going on, just useless posturing!
It's a sign of how frustrated Archer is that he clenches the arms of his chair with a white-knuckled grip.
ARCHER
All I'm asking you to do is listen to Cheet's complaints. Talk to him in instead of issuing demands.
The general's face tightens.
BERNARD
General Petrov's mandate comes directly from the president.
(beat, off of Archer's frown)
I'm a soldier, Captain. I obey orders, even when I don't necessarily agree with them.
Archer glares at her, temper building. Behind them, the UEM sergeant quietly departs the office; it's pretty clear from his expression that he's really uncomfortable being in the middle of this sort of discussion.
ARCHER
And if those orders call for you to fire on your fellow humans?
BERNARD
(composed but soft)
Then I'll obey them.
(beat, off Archer’s outraged expression)
And grieve for the dead afterwards.
(beat)
I don't expect you to understand, Captain. The training that UESPA gave you is different than what I received.
ARCHER
I understand more than you think. Petrov is not qualified to be down there, presidential mandate or not. What happens when he goes too far and a shooting war breaks out? How many more humans will we lose over this rock?
(beat, off Bernard's continued silence)
And what about the Vulcans? Do you honestly think they'll sit by and let you retake Alpha Centauri without a fight? How many die when they retaliate?
An uneasy silence takes hold of the office for a LONG BEAT. Perhaps sensing that he's making headway, Archer continues in a calmer voice.
ARCHER
I'm not asking you disobey orders, General-
From her frown, we can tell that Bernard thinks that he is asking that.
ARCHER (CONTINUED)
-only to give actual diplomacy a try. We have an amazing opportunity to finally make things better for everyone involved.
(beat, off her conflicted expression)
You know as well as I do that General Petrov is not the man for this job.
BERNARD
That's not my call, Captain. The president has already made his decision and I have to respect his authority.
ARCHER
Even when he's wrong?
BERNARD
Especially when he's wrong.
(beat)
I swore an oath to defend Earth from enemies both foreign and domestic. That may just sound like pretty words to you, but that oath means everything to me.
(beat)
I cannot and will not go against the orders of my legally appointed superiors.
From his expression, we can tell that Archer is both impressed and frustrated by the general's words.
BERNARD
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, Captain. I will take your suggestion under advisement.
It's a clear dismissal and Archer stands. His expression is grim.
ARCHER
I just hope you make a decision before the shooting starts.
As he makes his way to the hatch, we momentarily focus on Bernard and her “command face” falters ever so briefly at his words.
INT. LEXINGTON – CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
As Archer steps through the hatch and into the corridor, we see Major Reed and Ensign Sato waiting for him. The captain's expression says everything.
ARCHER
(grim)
We're done here.
Reed doesn't hesitate, turning and starting down the corridor in a measured pace. Hoshi hesitates as the captain gives the now closed hatch to General Bernard's office one last look, a look filled with poorly hidden frustration.
SATO
Captain?
ARCHER
I'm fine, Hoshi. Just a little ... annoyed.
Her own expression tightening, the ensign falls into step with the captain as they follow Major Reed through the corridor.
EXT. SPACE
Shuttlepod 01 departs the Lexington's launch bay and accelerates away from the military taskforce. We suddenly shift angles so we are looking at the rear of the shuttle as it moves away. Pulling back, it is quickly revealed that we are looking through General Bernard's viewport.
INT. LEXINGTON – GENERAL BERNARD'S OFFICE
Standing with her arms crossed, the general watches the gradually dwindling shuttle with an expression on her face that could only be called troubled. She glances to her desk and we follow her attention.
Her POV: On the display of her desktop computer, we can see Archer's official service record.
Back to scene: Sighing, Bernard glances again at the shuttlepod. A buzz sounds and she turns to the nearby comm. panel.
BERNARD
Yes?
BRIDGE OFFICER (COMM. VOICE)
General, we have emergency flash traffic incoming from Earth.
A flicker of alarm appears momentarily on the general's face before she responds.
BERNARD
Authenticate.
BRIDGE OFFICER (COMM. VOICE)
Yes, ma'am. Flash traffic is authenticated. I'm forwarding a copy to you now.
A soft whir can be heard from the desk and a letter-sized strip of paper slides from a slot on the top. Bernard picks it up and quickly scans it, her frown deepening with each second.
BERNARD
Recall General Petrov's team at once.
(beat, with a glance at the viewport)
And sound battle stations.
Dropping the paper onto her desk, she strides toward the hatch as a loud alarm begins to sound. We focus on the paper as she exits through the hatch. It bears a number of unintelligible numbers and digits that clearly mean something to someone trained in their meaning. The most important aspect, however, is a line of text sandwiched between those symbols:
Cease negotiations with ACent and stand by for CombOps. More to follow.
As we fade to black, a line of text appears in the lower portion of the screen.
To Be Continued...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE
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