ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE
A dozen human transports are engaged in a fierce firefight. Explosions ravage several of the ships as the incandescent streams of energy are readily exchanged between them. We PULL BACK and...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
...reveal that we are once again looking at the firefight upon the main viewscreen. Expressions are grim.
REED
(off his panel)
All stations report combat ready, sir.
(beat)
Hull armor fully polarized, missile launchers operational. Fire control teams standing by.
ARCHER
(nodding)
Thank you, Major.
(beat)
Ensign Sato, open a channel, all frequencies.
Hoshi inputs some commands into her board and a chime sounds. She nods to the captain.
ARCHER
This is Captain Jonathan Archer of the UES Enterprise to all ships. Stand down from hostile actions.
He glances toward T'Pol.
T'POL
No change.
(beat, off her readouts)
Correction: four vessels are accelerating toward Enterprise.
SATO
Multiple requests for assistance!
T'POL
Confirmed. Four vessels on approach are broadcasting emergency distress calls.
We focus on Archer's face for a BEAT as he glares at the viewscreen.
ARCHER
What about the other ships?
T'POL
Three vessels are heavily damaged and adrift.
(beat, off her readouts)
Five remaining vessels are maneuvering.
ARCHER
Toward us or away?
REED
They're forming a combat wedge.
And, on Reed's comment, we can see that the five remaining transports are maneuvering into a flying wedge, almost like an arrowhead.
REED
They're getting ready for an attack run.
T'POL
I concur.
ARCHER
Stand by for evasive maneuvers.
Archer again glances in Hoshi's direction.
ARCHER
All frequencies.
She nods as a chime sounds.
ARCHER
This is Enterprise to all ships. Stand down. We come in peace and do not wish to fire on you.
MAYWEATHER
(softly)
That's Horizon...
Travis' eyes are locked on the wedge formation and a remarkably confused expression is on his face. T'Pol clearly heard him - having superior Vulcan hearing - and glances at him, one eyebrow quirked. The ensign twists around slightly to look at Archer.
MAYWEATHER
Captain?
(off of Archer's nod to continue)
Can I try?
ARCHER
Go for it.
Travis looks to Hoshi and she quickly opens the "all frequencies" circuit once more. A familiar-sounding chime sounds.
MAYWEATHER
This is Travis Mayweather aboard the UES Enterprise calling Horizon. Please respond.
A BEAT passes in silence. Archer glances to Reed.
ARCHER
(very soft)
How long until weapons range?
REED
(equally soft)
One minute, twenty seconds.
MAYWEATHER
Horizon, this is Enterprise. Please respond.
Hoshi's console beeps suddenly and she reacts to it.
SATO
Incoming transmission.
(off the console)
It's the ECS Horizon.
ARCHER
On screen.
The image of the maneuvering ships split-screens to display a dark-skinned man with a resemblance to Travis.
MAYWEATHER
Paul!
Travis' brother barely gives him a second look, instead focusing entirely on Archer.
PAUL
This is Captain Paul Mayweather of Horizon to Enterprise.
(beat, ignoring Travis' surprised look)
This doesn't involve you, Enterprise.
ARCHER
Actually it does, Captain. Earth has sent us to try and resolve this entire situation.
PAUL
(contemptuously)
"Resolve"? Like you resolved the Centauri issue?
(dripping with disgust)
I think we can handle this ourselves!
ARCHER
Not when the military gets involved.
(off of Paul's surprise)
And they will get involved if you keep shooting at other ships.
(beat)
I'm the spoonful of honey, Captain. The gallon of vinegar comes later.
A LONG BEAT passes in silence as Paul Mayweather digests this.
ARCHER
By now, you've scanned Enterprise. You know that we're better armed than you are and we can top warp factor 5 so outrunning us isn't an option either.
(off of Paul's discomfort)
Right now, Earth is willing to talk. That's why they sent me instead of the Third Fleet.
PAUL
Talk?
ARCHER
Yes.
Another BEAT passes in silence.
PAUL
All right. I'll hear you out.
(beat, off of Archer's smile)
But not on Enterprise. You come to us.
ARCHER
I can do that. But only if you have your ships stand down.
PAUL
(nodding)
Done.
He nods to someone off-screen. A beep emerges from T'Pol's console.
T'POL
(off her board)
Human ships are powering down their weapons.
ARCHER
Major Reed, stand down from battle stations.
(to Paul Mayweather)
Thirty minutes then?
PAUL
Fine.
The screen blanks out as the transmission ends. Archer is already unbuckling his harnesses as he speaks.
ARCHER
Travis, you're with me. I'll need any insight you can provide if we're to avoid bloodshed.
Reed's expression is frustrated as he fixes Archer with an unblinking look. He too is unbuckling his safety gear.
ARCHER
Hoshi, I'll need your eyes and ears.
T'Pol raises an eyebrow at that, clearly not recognizing what the reference is supposed to mean, but says nothing. Archer stands and begins walking toward the turbolift, followed quickly by the two ensigns he has named.
ARCHER
Sub-Commander, you have the bridge.
The lift door closes on any response and we focus on Major Reed for a BEAT.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - OUTSIDE THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICE
Pulling back from Reed's face, we find him now standing in a corridor. As he reaches up to activate the call button, the door slides open, revealing Captain Archer. The captain is surprised to see the major and it shows.
ARCHER
Major. Something I can do for you?
REED
Yes, sir.
(beat)
What sort of security presence will you be taking with you to Horizon?
ARCHER
I hadn't planned to take any. This is diplomacy, not a military operation.
If possible, Reed's face tightens further.
REED
Permission to speak freely?
The captain's eyes narrow slightly and he steps back into his office, gesturing for Reed to follow. The major does so and enters-
INT. ENTERPRISE - ARCHER'S OFFICE
-the captain's office. The door slides shut behind him.
ARCHER
Permission granted.
REED
Captain, these people are dangerous. Not taking security is absurd. We already know that they won't hesitate to fire on other humans!
ARCHER
I am not taking a security team, Major. How do you think they'll react if your SFs are the first off of the shuttle?
(beat)
I'll tell you exactly how they'll react. They'll see it as an attempted boarding action and respond with force. And then, this whole situation will blow up in our faces!
REED
Have you thought about other alternatives that they may be considering, sir? Taking you hostage might be their objective.
ARCHER
They have to know that Earth wouldn't negotiate for my release.
REED
You said it yourself, sir: they're desperate. Knowing something and believing it are two very different things.
Archer is silent for a BEAT as he considers that.
ARCHER
One SF.
REED
Four.
ARCHER
Two. Any more and it will look like a boarding action.
Reed thinks that over before nodding.
REED
Very good, sir.
He turns to go.
ARCHER
Major Reed.
REED
Sir?
ARCHER
I want security to have a low profile on this. No combat armor, no pulse rifles, no grenades.
The expression on Reed's face is almost nauseous.
REED
(disconsolate)
Aye, sir. Low profile.
ARCHER
We leave in five minutes, Major. Dismissed.
Reed turns quickly, triggering the door release and stepping through it.
INT. ENTERPRISE - OUTSIDE THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICE
Marching quickly from the office, Major Reed shoots the now closed door a black look.
REED
(under his breath, pissed)
Low profile. What the bloody hell am I supposed to use? Harsh language?
And off of his dark expression, we
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – HANGAR DECK
Standing outside the 'pod with a clipboard in hand, Ensign Mayweather gives the enlisted crewman standing next to him a sullen look.
MAYWEATHER
Shuttlepod One? I requested Two.
DECK CREWMAN
Yes, sir. Maintenance found an oxygen leak on Two and are still repairing it.
(beat, off Mayweather's look)
Sir, everything checks out fine on One.
MAYWEATHER
(flatly)
It crashed.
(beat)
And sank into the ocean.
DECK CREWMAN
Chief al-Tagrib signed off on it, sir.
MAYWEATHER
(under his breath)
Maybe we should make him fly it.
Mayweather scribbles his signature on the clipboard and hands it to the crewman as he sees Ensign Sato approaching. She gives him a slight smile that falters when she sees the tail code of their shuttle.
SATO
We're taking Shuttlepod One?
(beat, suddenly concerned)
Didn't it crash?
Travis smiles.
MAYWEATHER
Only once!
(off her stricken look)
Didn't you know that these shuttlepods are good at least two crashes?
He enters the pod with a half-smile on his face. His good cheer fades fairly quickly however.
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
Quickly taking his seat at the pilot's console, Travis begins a pre-flight check. Hoshi comes up behind him and briefly drops her hand on his shoulder.
SATO
(softly)
How are you doing?
MAYWEATHER
(a tad bitter)
How do you think I'm doing?
SATO
Scared, angry, confused.
(beat, off his look)
That about sum it up?
MAYWEATHER
Pretty much.
(beat)
This will be the first time in over four years I've been home.
(beat)
Seeing Paul again...I don't know why he's the captain unless...
He stares at his panel without really seeing it for a moment and Hoshi squeezes his shoulder.
SATO
It'll be okay.
MAYWEATHER
(smiling slightly)
Promise?
SATO
Absolutely.
She takes her seat as Major Reed and 2ND LIEUTENANT AMANDA COLE enter the shuttlepod. Both UEM officers are wearing black combat fatigues and are carrying wicked-looking sidearms.
REED
Shuttlepod One? Didn't this thing crash?
Hoshi almost giggles at the major's comment but thinks better of it off his grim expression; she looks away as if remembering that one of Reed's SFs died in that crash.
A BEAT later, Captain Archer enters the 'pod, pulling the hatch shut and sealing it with quick, economical motions indicating an old familiarity. He glances over Reed and Cole before taking the seat just behind Travis and across from Hoshi.
ARCHER
All aboard and accounted for, Travis.
(with a smirk)
Try not to hit anything on the way out. We've already used up one of its two allotted crashes.
Travis shoots an "I told you so" look at Hoshi who now looks at the Captain as if he is insane or perhaps trying to pull one over on her. Archer returns the look with a bland smirk that reveals nothing.
EXT. SPACE – CLOSE TO SHUTTLEPOD 01
Engines burning bright, the small shuttlepod races from the rear of the larger UESPA craft and conducts a wide turn that orients it toward the five Boomer ships, still arrayed in a flying wedge. We trail the shuttle for several BEATS as it approaches the five ships before ZOOMING toward one of the five. Within seconds, the ship fills our screen and yet, we continue to ZOOM, finally focusing on a curious-looking object attached to the ship's hull. A pale green in color, it is very obviously not a normal part of the ship's component.
Suddenly, a small light fixture within the object begins to pulse. And off that ominous note, we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
Continue to Act Five
