TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. UNKNOWN ALIEN COCKPIT
We’re focused on a row of lit buttons that take up our entire view. The writing upon their surface is in some alien language preventing us from ascertaining their purpose. Our focus is taken off of the writing as a finger suddenly comes into view and depresses the button farthest to the left. Its light goes out as we PULL BACK and PAN to reveal a cramped alien cockpit.
PILOT 1
(in an unknown alien language)
[Injector assemblies reading 95%...we’re showing green to begin final reactor start up procedures.]
(beat)
[Countdown commencing.]
The cockpit is crammed with equipment. Consoles with blinking lights that don’t seem to have any purpose other than to take up space, read outs that constantly display positional updates and core readings, and three seats occupied by “people” excited to be there but wishing they had just a little more wiggle room. One display located directly in front of PILOT 1 has come to life and begins the countdown mentioned. At least it appears to be a countdown as the numbers are just as alien as the writing.
CUT TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The alien display has been replaced by a tactical readout on Enterprise that shows the human ship in pursuit of some unknown vessel. We PULL BACK to MAJOR REED analyzing the readout and reporting his findings to CAPTAIN ARCHER.
REED
Captain, if they’ve got weapons, they aren’t armed…yet.
(beat, confident)
Even if they did sir, I doubt they would pose anything more than a nuisance.
Archer glances at the major but otherwise doesn’t take his stare off the view screen.
ARCHER
Hoshi, send a message to the nearest UEM ship.
(beat)
Let them know that we’ve caught up with one of the freighters, and that we will be holding them until they can arrive.
On the other side of the bridge ENSIGN SATO goes to work sending out the requested message to anyone willing to listen. At the same time, SUB-COMMANDER T’POL is hard at work herself. She turns and looks into the small viewing device at her station. After a BEAT, she rises and turns to address Archer.
T’POL
Captain, the system ahead is under the protection of the Vulcan High Command.
(beat)
It has been designated as off-limits to all unauthorized vessels. I recommend that we halt our pursuit immediately.
We can see Archer flinch ever so slightly at the voice of “his” first officer. It’s obvious before he even speaks that he has no intention of following T’Pol’s “recommendation”.
ARCHER
We have been ordered to apprehend this rogue freighter. I have every intention of following that order.
(beat, smug)
Besides, if the High Command doesn’t want us in there, I doubt they’d want that ship in there either.
She has no counterpoint to provide, her only response is to raise her eyebrow at the captain, who is still staring at the boomer ship on the screen. We focus in on the viewscreen until the image of the ship fills our view.
CUT TO:
INT. BOOMER SHIP – BRIDGE
It’s the same shot but the image on the viewscreen has been replaced with that of Enterprise. We PULL BACK yet again and PAN to reveal the small five person bridge of the Boomer ship. Their captain sits on the edge of his seat for a BEAT before he jumps up and moves over to the helm station.
CAPTAIN
(worried)
They still following us?
HELMSMAN
(snide)
I’ll let you know the moment they decide to veer off, sir.
The captain doesn’t bother to respond to the helmsman’s sarcasm as everyone on the bridge looks too tired to care at this point.
CAPTAIN
That system ahead, does it look like a good place to rest a spell?
FIRST OFFICER
We might be able to lose them in there.
(beat)
Not like we have a choice anyway. Can’t keep running the engines like this for much longer.
The captain sighs quietly in defeat, clearly dissatisfied with his options. From the exhausted expressions of the crew, it is obvious they have been running for days, and from the constant blare of alarms it is apparent that the aging ship cannot run any farther.
CAPTAIN
We’re decided then. Prepare to drop us out of warp.
(beat)
Pick out a planet with a nice big magnetic field to hide us…maybe we can lose them that way. Be sure to drop us out as close as you can get us.
The helmsman taps at his controls, almost nervously, as he prepares to carry out the orders.
HELMSMAN
Aye sir…preparing to drop out of warp.
CUT TO:
INT. ALIEN COCKPIT
The countdown timer seems to be winding down at the front of the cockpit. The aliens continue to work the controls of the unknown vessel, preparing for whatever voyage might be before them. The commander of the ship speaks up.
COMMANDER
[This is it, all systems go…let’s make some history!]
He flips up a protective cover over a switch and watches the timer intently. When it reaches the end he throws the switch. Time seems to slow down within the cockpit as the control activates. The engines begin to roar as they build up their burst of energy.
EXT. PLANET – ORBIT
A small ship, the one we were just on, orbits a large Earth-like planet. Oddly shaped warp nacelles, which are nearly twice as long as the body of the ship itself, jut out from the middle of the strange craft. Their coils start to pulsate with energy as they prepare for their flight of faster-than-light speeds.
We PAN slightly, bringing into view a portion of the blackness of space while keeping the ship in our sights. Without warning, a FLASH can be seen in the distance as the cargo ship drops out of warp. The massive ship is unable to turn away from the small warp vessel in time and slams into it with a spectacular crash! The much smaller craft spins out of control, spewing green gases from a damaged nacelle. The boomer ship moves off at impulse power.
CUT TO:
INT. ALIEN COCKPIT
The pilots are pinned against their chairs as it continues to spin out of control. Looks of horror are on their faces as they wonder if they’ll survive…and wonder what they just witnessed slam into their ship. On their expressions we…
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
Continue to Act One
