ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. NEWS ROOM
We’re back in the alien news room. The setting is different this time as there is now a table with several occupied chairs. The people sitting in the chairs seem to range from government officials to military personnel. Next to the table is the desk from the previous news room scene with the same anchor behind it. He clears his throat as we switch to a similar view as from the previous scene, as if we are watching it through some viewscreen.
ANCHOR
(stunned)
[This is an unbelievable moment in the history of our world…aliens have landed at the capital.]
(beat)
[We will be showing you an exclusive live feed from the capital, as these visitors from another world are greeted.]
The screen behind him changes to a camera feed from a capital city on the planet. In the foreground are several ground vehicles and nearly a hundred people gathered around Shuttlepod One in the background. The camera changes to a closer view as the side door to the pod opens and two SF’s step out, guns lowered but ready. Following them is Archer, who pauses at the threshold before stepping down behind the two officers. A female news reporter on the scene comes into view and speaks into the camera.
REPORTER
(frantic)
[The aliens seem to be armed, but we aren’t sure if their intentions are hostile or not.]
(beat)
[Here come soldiers to escort them to the main building. At least that is what we believe will be done.]
One of the soldiers breaks off and approaches the camera.
SOLDIER
[Ma’am, you’ll have to turn off that camera.]
He reaches his hand out and covers the lens. The image abruptly cuts out behind the Anchor as we…
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET - GOVERNMENT BUILDING
We’re at the site we just saw on the alien transmission. The survivors from the FTL ship are being hauled out of a second shuttlepod as the crew is being escorted to a building a short distance away. Archer, Sato, Reed, and a few SF’s are being pushed at gunpoint as Sato desperately works on translating their friendly intentions.
ARCHER
(tightly)
Hoshi, now would be a good time.
SATO
(nervous)
I’m trying, Captain. It doesn’t help to have a gun pointed at me though.
REED
I could point one back, but I don’t know how kindly they’d take to that.
Archer looks around at the alien faces, the stern yet frightened faces of their escorts.
ARCHER
Let’s not find out…
(beat)
It’s strange, though, that they haven’t taken our weapons yet.
REED
Maybe they’re afraid to.
SATO
They aren’t the only ones afraid right now.
ARCHER
(calming)
Just keep working, Ensign, we won’t let anything happen.
Ensign Sato works furiously with the translating device while they continue toward the building. Luckily, the soldiers are talking amongst themselves, their words inaudible to us but not to Sato. After a BEAT, her head pops up.
SATO
Got it!
ARCHER
Good…now tell them why we’re here.
Sato checks the translator one more time before speaking.
SATO
[We mean harm no.]
(beat)
[We bring pilots back.]
The soldiers look at her oddly. After a moment they simply look at each other and then ahead again.
Sato looks confused, not understanding why they don’t seem interested in what she had to say.
ARCHER
Ensign?
SATO
I don’t know, Captain. Maybe I said it wrong.
ARCHER
Keep trying.
Sato works on her translation device again as we
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol has taken the captain’s chair and Tucker sits at Damage Control. He doesn’t look entirely comfortable with T’Pol in command, or being left behind.
TUCKER
(mumbling)
I’d rather be in Engineering. I have better things to do.
T’Pol’s ears perk up at his hushed comment. She turns to address him quietly.
T’POL
I could replace you if you wish, Commander.
He looks up from the console, unsure whether to be insulted or not.
TUCKER
(coolly)
No need to go that far, Sub-Commander. I’ll just deal with it.
T’POL
I simply meant that if it were a problem-
She is cut off by the beeping of the Science station; LIEUTENANT RAKEE GARLA, who is manning that station, checks one of the monitors.
GARLA
Ma'am, I’m picking up a faint reading one million kilometers off our port stern.
(beat)
It could be the freighter.
TUCKER
Looks like those sensor modifications are really coming in handy.
T’POL
Helm, set an intercept course at maximum impulse.
MAYWEATHER
Course plotted. We’ll be on them in three minutes.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET – GOVERNMENT BUILDING
The landing party has come to the steps of the government building. Their escorts move to the side as a man walks up under heavy guard. He carries himself like a person with great power over those around him, except for these newcomers. The man stops a few steps short of Archer and looks the captain over curiously, clearly examining the differences in physiology. Unlike the others, he doesn’t show his apprehension as noticeably, though it is still there. This is PRESIDENT MELTAK.
MELTAK
[Who are you?]
The question is very straightforward, which works out for Sato in her attempts to translate.
SATO
[We are] humans.
MELTAK
[Fascinating.]
(beat)
[Why are you here? More importantly, why did you destroy our ship?]
ARCHER
What is he saying Hoshi?
SATO
He wants to know why we destroyed their ship.
ARCHER
Tell him it wasn’t us. Tell him that the only thing we did was rescue their pilots.
SATO
[We not destroy ship, others did. We bring you pilots we save, they need help.]
At that the man looks off to the side at the pilots, four of them, on stretchers. He turns his head and says something to someone behind him. Immediately people come up and take the injured pilots.
CUT TO:
INT. PLANET – PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
Archer and Sato are seated in Meltak’s office, while Reed and his two SFs lounge near the door, next to a trio of native guards that look like Marines. It’s a moderately sized room with a strange alien décor of dark purple and green, with a large glass (or glass-like) desk near the back. Meltak sits behind the desk, a grin on his face from the prospect of conversing further with these peculiar aliens.
Meltak addresses Archer while Sato translates for both.
MELTAK
[Captain] Archer [is it?]
ARCHER
Yes.
MELTAK
[Ah, good. I believe you were going to explain the situation that led to the destruction of our vessel.]
ARCHER
We were chasing a rogue ship; it was that vessel that collided with yours. We arrived in time to rescue most of the crew. Right now, I have Enterprise searching for the rogues.
MELTAK
[Quite the story. Unfortunately we only managed to see your ship after the explosion and nothing before.]
Archer eyes him, attempting to determine what the president’s intentions are by that statement.
ARCHER
I can assure you that is what happened.
(beat)
I only wish we could have stopped them in time, to save us from this terrible situation, so we could possibly have a proper first contact.
MELTAK
(grinning)
[I don’t think it is too late for that. You are all heroes in my opinion, and soon even the opinion of our people!]
(beat)
[We are honored to have you here, regardless of how you arrived.]
Reed leans in to talk to one of his troopers.
REED
(whispering)
Hope all of our first contact missions go this smoothly.
She nods silently in agreement.
ARCHER
I’m glad to hear that. I was worried this might turn out badly.
Meltak’s grin wavers slightly.
MELTAK
[I’m sure everything will be fine…once you are introduced to the Governing Congress of Peace.]
(beat, reassuring)
[Nothing to worry about though, I’m certain they will be as thrilled as I am. Just a necessity you see, since the FTL test was an international effort, they are required to be involved.]
Archer can’t help but smile at the indication of the level of cooperation among the people of this world.
ARCHER
I look forward to it.
(beat)
Sounds like we have a few things in common.
MELTAK
[With quite a few things not, things that I shall enjoy learning about.]
ARCHER
As will I.
(beat)
First thing…you never told us what you call yourselves.
Meltak can’t help but laugh gently at the realization.
MELTAK
[I imagine it would be helpful.]
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol’s eyebrow is raised in its typical manner as she looks at a box shaped object on the viewscreen.
T’POL
Fascinating.
GARLA
It looks like they jettisoned one of their cargo pods to throw off our sensors.
TUCKER
Damned clever.
T’POL
Then we shall continue our search.
GARLA
I’ll start looking for likely places they’d run to.
At the Tactical station, LIEUTENANT PICARD is transfixed on one of the monitors, which displays a layout of D deck. Within this layout are dozens of blue dots of various sizes, some are moving while others are stationary. Off to his side, an unnamed ensign speaks up about the situation to no one in particular.
ENSIGN
Sounds like we’ll be doing this for a while.
Picard responds to the ensign’s complaints without looking away from his screen.
PICARD
Gives me time to solve the mystery blip.
ENSIGN
(confused)
The what?
PICARD
Ever since we docked with those Boomer ships, we’ve been picking up a strange reading on the internal sensors.
(beat)
Most of Alpha Team has been tracking the damned thing, but no luck. I’m hoping to figure out what it is before the major gets back.
ENSIGN
(sarcastic)
Right. Let me know if you find anything.
Not picking up on the sarcasm, Picard nods in acknowledgment.
PICARD
Will do, Ensign.
The ensign moves towards a nearby crewman and lowers his voice considerably.
ENSIGN
Sometimes those UEM types seem a little too paranoid.
CREWMAN
(partially joking)
Careful. He might hear you.
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise sits a few kilometers from the cargo pod as it spins lazily in space. In moments, the engines of the Enterprise come to life and slowly push the ship in a new direction, away from the pod. We PAN slowly, bringing into view the blue world, contrasted against a deep green nebula in the background behind it.
INT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING – MEETING ROOM
The entire landing party is in a large meeting room. They’ve set up what equipment they brought with them and are taking some time to relax. Sato and Reed are talking in a corner, surrounded by the SF’s who carry on their own conversation. Archer stands next to the opposite wall with his communicator in hand.
ARCHER
(enthusiastically)
Everything went surprisingly smoothly, right from the moment we landed.
(beat)
Definitely not what I had imagined.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
(mock jealousy)
Rub it in that I didn’t get to go, why don’t ya?
Archer’s expression turns somewhat serious, as if he’s only just now remembered why his friend isn’t with him.
ARCHER
Speaking of, once you apprehend the Boomer ship…I want you to come down to the surface.
(beat)
I told President Meltak that I would introduce you to him. He says their scientists would be eager to talk with you about warp theory.
Though we can’t see it, we can tell that Tucker isn’t too sure about what the captain has suggested.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
You want me to help them on their engines?
ARCHER
You could put it that way. After all, we have a great opportunity here to help these people grow further, faster.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
If you say so, Cap'n. Just sounds like an awful big step to be taking so soon.
Archer’s face reddens slightly at the doubt in Tucker’s voice.
ARCHER
We aren’t Vulcans, Trip. If we help these people, we can keep them from losing more good people and wasting valuable time.
There’s an awkward BEAT between the two.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
(dubious)
I guess so, sir.
Archer decides it best to change the subject.
ARCHER
How is the search going for the Boomer ship?
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
Well, they’ve been hiding pretty well so far, but I’m sure it won’t be long before we find them.
(beat)
Those sensor modifications of T’Pol’s seem to be doing the job, but even with them, it's tough going.
ARCHER
Keep at it, Trip. We can’t let them get away…not after what happened.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
Understood, Cap’n.
ARCHER
Archer out.
He closes the communicator and walks over to the group still talking in the corner. Reed is the first to break the conversation to address the captain.
REED
What’s the word, sir?
ARCHER
(frowning)
They haven’t caught them yet, but Commander Tucker says they’re hot on the trail.
Sato is about to say something when the door to the room opens, Meltak walks in a smile on his face.
MELTAK
[Good news! The Congress will be holding an emergency session in one hour to meet with you.]
ARCHER
That’s great.
(beat)
I have a few things I’d like to propose, such as establishing long term diplomatic relations with your planet, maybe even establish an embassy. I’m also going to talk with my superiors about sending engineering teams to share our technology.
MELTAK
[Wonderful!]
(beat)
[I’ll go and inform the Speaker of what you wish to discuss with them.]
ARCHER
Thank you…I guess I better get ready.
Meltak bows his head and leaves the room. We focus in on Archer’s face; a shadow has come over it similar to before. Once again, he seems to doubt himself in this situation. On this we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Continue to Act Three
