ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE
We watch, stationary in normal space, as Enterprise and the six Andorian warships drop out of warp. We PAN to follow them and watch as they rapidly approach Alpha Centauri and the surrounding Tellarite fleet in the distance.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Trip, having returned to Engineering, the rest of the bridge crew looks at the viewscreen grimly as the Tellarite fleet begins to deploy.
T’POL
Hail the lead Tellarite ship and inform them that they have five minutes to withdraw.
Hoshi nods nervously and turns to her console. There is a BEAT as Hoshi speaks inaudibility into her comm.
T’POL
Go to battle stations. Arm all weapons and polarize the hull.
Reed sounds the appropriate klaxon three times before speaking into his comm. panel.
REED
All hands, report to battle stations; all hands to battle stations.
(beat, off console)
Weapons and defensive systems coming online now, Sub-Commander.
HOSHI
The Tellarites are demanding to speak to you, Sub-Commander.
T’POL
Put them onscreen.
The familiar face of the Tellarite Fleet Captain appears, and he isn’t happy.
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
I demand to know why you’ve brought our enemies with you Earther!
The Tellarite blinks as he realizes that he’s not speaking to a human.
T’POL
This is Sub-Commander T’Pol in command of the United Earth Ship Enterprise; you are ordered to stand down and withdraw from this system.
The Tellarite seems to ignore her, and is actually mildly amused as he looks at the Vulcan woman.
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
What happened to the Earther Captain? Did he die in our last meeting before your ship ran like a frightened animal with its tail between its legs?
(beat, grunts)
It would serve him right for insulting me so personally.
T’POL
(coolly)
Captain Archer’s health is not your concern, Fleet Captain; my order for you to withdraw is, as are the Andorian warships behind me which are here to enforce my order.
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
I can’t believe you’d be foolish enough to bring our enemies here, Vulcan.
(beat)
Why are you even on that Earther vessel, Vulcan? Your own High Command not want you?
There is a beeping from Hoshi’s console.
HOSHI
(off console, concerned)
Sub-Commander, the Kumari is hailing us and the lead Tellarite ship.
T’POL
Put them onscreen as well, Ensign.
Hoshi enters a command into her console and the viewscreen spits between the Tellarite Fleet Captain and Commander Shran, whom we can tell is feeling very aggressive. The Tellarite makes a porcine grunt at one of his crew members to do the same.
T’POL
(in Vulcan)
[Before either of you speaks, I wish to make clear that there is still a peaceful solution to this situation if you are both willing to listen.]
SHRAN
(in Andorian)
[That’s ridiculous, Vulcan; we can’t let these pigs go unpunished for the massacre at our outpost.]
The Tellarite grunts in disbelief.
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
(in Tellarite)
[I don’t know what you’re talking about, Andorian. Why don’t you get your facts straight before you go making wild claims?]
(beat)
[What lies did these humans tell you to make you crawl out of your ice cave?]
SHRAN
[The humans had nothing to do with your attack on our outpost!]
(beat)
[All they did was confirm our own scans and tell us where to find you.]
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
(angrily)
[We didn’t attack your outpost, Andorian! You’re just using this as an excuse to attack us.]
(beat)
[Don’t listen to anything he says, Vulcan; he’s just a bloodthirsty savage!]
SHRAN
[I don’t need an excuse to hunt down Tellarite pigs and kill them. I’d do it for sport if my government saw fit to let me.]
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
[You see!? He’s insane!]
T’POL
(losing patience but still composed)
[Raising your voices accomplishes nothing. We need to discuss this rationally.]
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
[There is no rationalizing with Andorians!]
The Tellarite pushes the button that cuts his transmission with a flurry.
SHRAN
(slightly patronizing)
[Discussion is pointless, Sub-Commander, just stand aside and let me take care of them.]
T’Pol opens her mouth to respond, but is cut off as Shran ends the transmission. T’Pol closes her mouth and glares at the empty viewscreen.
REED
I don’t know any Vulcan, but I’m guessing that conversation didn’t go very well.
T’POL
You presume correctly, Major.
(beat)
What is our status?
REED
All weapons are armed and ready, and the hull armor is …as good as it’s going to get.
From his tone, we get the point that as “good as it’s going to get” isn’t very good at all.
T’POL
The Tellarites and the Andorians?
REED
(off console)
All ships have charged weapons and are targeting each other.
(beat)
Two of the Tellarite ships have firing solutions on us.
T’POL
Jam them with electronic countermeasures.
REED
I’ll do my best Sub-Commander, but I don’t have much in way of equipment to work with here.
T’Pol raises a critical eyebrow at him and Reed goes back to his console.
REED
(muttering to himself)
Right.
Suddenly, an alarm sounds from his panel and he checks it.
REED
The Andorians are opening fire.
EXT. SPACE
Blue beams lance out from all six Andorian warships at the distant Tellarite fleet. Bright flashes signify hits as the intended targets explode. Gold Tellarite beams bite back at the Andorians; two of them strike Enterprise.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The ship shudders under the impact and warning lights begin to flash on several consoles.
REED
Hull armor on section four compromised!
The Chief Petty Officer sitting at Damage Control checks his console.
CPO
We’re losing pressure in that section; deploying damage control teams.
T’POL
Helm, reorient the ship; protect that section of the hull.
(beat, to Reed)
Lock weapons and return fire.
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise’s lasers connect to a Tellarite ship in the distance as her forward missile launchers open fire. The missiles streak toward their targets. The Andorians over-fly Enterprise and keep firing, but that doesn’t keep the Tellarites from firing at the damaged Earth ship. Gold beams connect with Enterprise’s hull and inflict more and more damages as they keep coming.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol remains a calm in the center of the chaos as more alarms sound and warning lights flash.
T’POL
Maintain fire, Major.
(beat)
Helm, take evasive actions, and move us out of the combat zone.
Travis doesn’t respond verbally, instead taking the ship into a steep dive as more gold beams flash overhead, barely missing them.
REED
They’re firing missiles; I could use some help jamming them.
The Science Officer from the away mission sits nervously at the Science station.
SCIENCE OFFICER
I’ll try, Sir.
Hoshi looks between them, feeling rather useless.
HOSHI
I’ll help.
The two women focus on their consoles and go to work.
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise banks and turns sharply to port, toward us. We can see the flash of exchanging fire between the Tellarites and the Andorians all around them, with heavy damage being inflicted on both sides. Spatial torpedoes and missiles join the fray, streaking toward their intended targets. Enterprise continues to make her way out of the combat zone, not in any shape to get involved. Her plasma batteries open fire at approaching Tellarite missiles, taking out as many of them as their controllers can manage. The ship takes evasive maneuvers, and though most of the missiles are either destroyed or miss, one strikes the ship on the upper side of the port engine’s pylon, breaking off the armor and the hull right down to the conduits underneath. Blue warp plasma begins to vent from the damaged conduits.
INT. ENTERPRISE – ENGINEERING
There’s a thunderous shudder that reverberates through the room, knocking people over and wreaking havoc with equipment, which explode in showers of sparks. Several conduits break open and begin venting their contents into the room, setting off alarms. Trip watches in horror as the port warp plasma conduit develops a crack, setting off the radiation alarms in the room. Sparks from nearby equipment hits the venting gas and ignites a green plasma fire, which consumes a crewman that had been nearby attempting to effect repairs. His screams fill the room. Another crewman grabs an extinguisher to put him out, but it’s too late.
KELBY
(at radiation alarms)
Seal the ventilation system!
TRIP
Everyone get in your radiation suits! Let’s go!
Some of the engineers are too busy to leave their posts, but most of them rush to nearby lockers and pull out radiation suits, which they quickly don. Trip grabs a suit for himself and Kelby when he notices Cole and her platoon of SFs are still there. He hands a suit to Kelby and points at Cole.
TRIP
You need to get you and your people out of here!
COLE
We can’t leave our post! What if we’re boarded!?
TRIP
(angrily)
I gave you a damned order so get the hell out of here! We need to seal Engineering off to keep the radiation from spreadin’ to the rest of the ship!
Cole scowls but does as she’s told, motioning to her SFs to clear the room.
COLE
Delta Platoon! Let’s go! Clear the room!
Trip takes the opportunity to jump into his radiation suit, briefly glancing at the SFs as they scramble out of the room.
ENGR CREWMAN 1
(to Kelby)
The controls don’t respond!
Kelby points at several of the overhead vents and piping, indicating their valve cranks.
KELBY
Let’s seal them off manually!
Kelby runs to the nearest one and starts cranking, the crewman helping him.
Trip turns to the main console and starts flipping switches. He quickly glances at the doors, making sure that they close and seal off the room. He takes a moment to activate the comm. panel.
TRIP
Engineering to Bridge!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Report.
TRIP
We’ve taken heavy damage to the warp drive system! I’ll see what I can do, but we might be looking at a core overload!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Our sensors are indicating a radiation leak in Engineering.
TRIP
I’ve sealed off Engineering and we’re workin’ on the ventilation system!
(beat)
One of the warp plasma conduits has ruptured and ignited, and we have multiple power transfer conduits leaking plasma!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
How much power is available?
Trip looks across the board, and we can see that most of the readings are in the red with warning lights flashing next to them, except for the ones marked “IMPULSE”.
TRIP
Looks like impulse drive is still operational; just keep us from gettin’ shot up anymore!
There’s another explosion in the background and several screams. Trip turns in time to see several engineers thrown to the floor on the lower level, all of them covered in burns.
TRIP
Look, can’t talk any more, Sub-Commander, I’m busy!
T’POL
(mildly irritated)
Keep me apprised.
Trip turns off the comm. panel.
TRIP
(muttering sarcastically)
Right….. Like I don’t already have enough to do…
(beat)
Jacob!
KELBY
(harried)
What!?
TRIP
Help me close off the injectors!
Kelby rushes over to the main console and stands next to Trip. The two of them begin manipulating the controls.
TRIP
We need to get ready to flush all the reactants out of the warp core too; we can vent the plasma out of the starboard conduit.
KELBY
That’ll tear apart all the magnetic constrictors in the whole damn thing!
TRIP
(impatiently)
It’s that or the core breaches!
Trip manipulates more of the controls. The monitor displaying a schematic of one of the injectors begins to flash red and sounds yet another alarm.
TRIP
Aww sh…..
Trip pounds on the console to keep from saying the expletive aloud. Kelby looks at him in concern.
KELBY
What is it?
TRIP
The matter injector is stuck half-open; we have to seal it manually.
(beat, interrupting Kelby)
Get the core ready to flush.
Before Kelby can try to reply again, Trip quickly turns and rushes to the railing. He looks for and quickly finds SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFICER KYLE LINQUIST.
TRIP
Chief!
(beat)
Chief!
Linquist hears Trip over the din and looks up at him. Trip points at the matter injector.
TRIP
The injector’s stuck half open! Seal it manually!
Not wanting to waste time competing with the noise level, Linquist gives Trip an exaggerated nod and rushes to the injector. We change angles to watch as he rips a panel off the side of the injector to expose a hand-operated pump handle. He quickly grabs it and starts pumping, panting with the exertion.
INT. ALPHA CENTAURI CAPITOL BUILDING – LOBBY
Titus Cheet’s revolutionaries seek cover behind furniture and the ornate columns in the large lobby, exchanging fire with more police officers and Alpha Centauri military guardsmen. Titus exchanges glances with an older man who’s next to him, OLD SARGE.
TITUS
We can’t keep this up much longer.
(beat, flinches at a near miss)
Especially if they call in reinforcements.
OLD SARGE
We barricaded the entrance Sir; that oughta hold ‘em for a while.
The older man gives him a reassuring grin.
TITUS
(cringing)
God, I swore I’d never let it come to this.
OLD SARGE
Oh hell, Sir, I swore I’d get out of this business...
(beat, firing weapon)
And here I’m at it again.
(beat)
Don’t worry, we’re doin’ fine.
Titus takes the older man’s confidence to heart, and the two of them fire down the lobby.
INT. ALPHA CENTAURI CAPITOL BUILDING – FRANKLIN’S OFFICE
Governor Franklin sits at his desk, speaking frantically to Admiral Krav on his monitor.
ADMIRAL KRAV
(critically)
Can’t you control your own people?
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
(defensively)
I have the capitol security fighting them already, but they’ve barricaded the entrance to the lobby area so I can’t send in more people. I don’t know how much longer we can hold them off.
(beat)
We need heavier equipment; the security here was never meant to deal with such a serious intrusion.
Admiral Krav sighs heavily.
ADMIRAL KRAV
(grumbling in Tellarite)
[This has to be one of the worst business ventures my people has ever gotten involved in.]
(beat, in English)
You realize that with the Andorians attacking we’re in serious danger of defeat!?
(beat, sighing)
And now you want me to deal with this too?
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
Don’t you have troops on the ground?
Admiral Krav eyes Governor Franklin; knowing what he’s about to ask.
ADMIRAL KRAV
Yes….
(beat)
Would you like me to deploy them to your building?
Governor Franklin hesitates, but only for a moment.
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
Yes.
ADMIRAL KRAV
So be it, but this is going to cost you, Human.
(beat)
Let us hope that this situation is resolved quickly, or I might need to contact my superiors about a military governor for your world.
Admiral Krav cuts the transmission. Governor Franklin can only swallow hard, and fear for the future of his planet.
INT. ALPHA CENTAURI CAPITOL BUILDING – LOBBY
The firefight continues, with both sides evenly matched and at a stalemate. One of the police officers grabs a loudspeaker and puts it up to his mouth.
POLICE OFFICER
Give it up! There are Tellarite reinforcements on the way!
Titus motions for his people to stop firing. An odd calm falls over the room as the police and guardsmen stop firing as well.
TITUS
Don’t you realize what’s going on?
(beat)
Don’t you realize what the governor’s doing?
(beat)
He hired these aliens without even consulting anyone and now they’re killing humans! He’s a worse dictator than the one we’re trying to escape!
GUARDSMAN
You’re the ones that came in here shooting!
OLD SARGE
We’re doing what we have to!
TITUS
No one was going to listen! We needed to take matters into our own hands!
POLICE OFFICER
Even if you manage to get to the Governor, what do you hope to accomplish!?
TITUS
We need a government that will accept the help of the Vulcan peacekeepers on the way!
GUARDSMAN
The Vulcans!?
(beat, scoffs)
More aliens!? And you have the gall to complain about Governor Franklin getting help from the Tellarites!?
TITUS
I’d hardly call it help!
GUARDSMAN
Yeah, whatever you say, hypocrite.
Suddenly, there’s a pounding at the barricade. We can hear the Tellarites grunting with the effort as they ram the hastily tossed benches blocking the doors. It doesn’t take them long to burst through, their hydraulic rams sending pieces of the benches flying everywhere. Before the way is even fully clear, the Tellarites start firing.
OLD SARGE
Take cover!
Despite the older man’s order, there really isn’t anything they can get behind that doesn’t expose them to the police and guardsmen. Still, most of them try, and are immediately exposed to fire as the police and guardsmen resume firing. Titus is hit in the back of his right shoulder, spinning him around as it knocks him down. Old Sarge moves to tend to him, but is caught in the head by a blast from a Tellarite weapon. His body falls limply to the ground as Titus looks at his lifeless face in horror, which quickly turns to anger.
TITUS
(filled with rage)
No!!!!
Titus picks up his weapon and begins firing at the Tellarite soldiers coming in through the breach they made.
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise limps away from the main battle at impulse, but two Tellarite warships have broken off and are chasing her. The gap between them closes rapidly as the Tellarite ships begin to open fire. Gold beams lash out like angry whips at the small ship’s battered hull.
INT. ENTERPRISE – ENGINEERING
Trip climbs up the steep ladder from the lower level and rejoins Kelby at the main control console. The ship is rocked by Tellarite weapons fire, making movement for everyone in the room a difficult task.
KELBY
We’re ready to flush the core!
TRIP
Let’s do it!
Trip takes a moment to activate the comm. panel.
TRIP
Bridge, Engineering!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Bridge.
TRIP
We need to flush the reactants out of the warp core, but if those Tellarites hit it…
(beat)
We can’t be showin’ ‘em our ass when we vent or they might ignite it.
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
We are somewhat limited as to our maneuvering options. Is this procedure absolutely necessary?
TRIP
(sarcastically)
Only if you consider survivin’ the next few minutes important…
BEAT
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Understood.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Doctor Lucas and a medic tend to an injured and unconscious Science Officer, then carry her away on a stretcher. Hoshi is herself injured, but ignores her wounds, concentrating on her console.
Several of the consoles are damaged, but the Science console is unusable. Though most of the crew is franticly working their consoles, Reed and T’Pol stand out among them, remaining calm in the chaos.
T’POL
Major Reed, lock all missile launchers on the closest Tellarite ship and prepare to fire.
Reed works his console and looks through his targeting viewer.
REED
I have a solution…all three launchers, positive lock.
T’POL
Prepare to fire the laser cannons on the same ship, maximum power.
Reed looks up from his targeting viewer for a moment to adjust the laser cannon controls. His face firmly planted against the viewer again, his finger hovers over the “fire” button.
REED
Lasers primed, Ma’am.
T’POL
Fire missiles.
EXT. SPACE
We watch Enterprise from an aft 3/4 perspective, focusing on her missile launchers, which are all facing aft. They open fire, spewing all of their missiles, which we pan to follow. The twelve missiles streak toward their target, a Tellarite ship twice the size of her intended prey. The missiles strike the obsidian hull of the Tellarite ship, concentrated on a single area. A large explosion blossoms, lighting up the Tellarite’s sister ship with its iridescence.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’POL
Helm, come hard about!
(to Reed)
Open fire as soon as you have a lock.
EXT. SPACE
Thrusters firing, Enterprise flips end over end, quickly coming about to face her pursuers. Red laser light connects her to the wounded Tellarite warship an instant later. We change angles and focus on the Tellarite, and can see the three laser beams cutting into her already heavily damaged hull. Secondary explosions begin to blossom as we change angles; the wounded Tellarite veers off course and begins to withdraw, trailing fire and debris from her wounded hull.
INT. ENTERPRISE – ENGINEERING
Trip and Kelby recover from the tight maneuver the ship just performed, having barely managed to cling to the handrail along the front of the main console. We can see several other engineers picking themselves up from the floor in the background. Trip looks wryly upwards, in the imagined general direction of the Bridge.
TRIP
(mumbling sarcastically)
Thanks for the warning….
(beat, to Kelby)
Okay! Let’s do it!
Kelby and Trip adjust a few controls on the main consoles, causing several warning lights and alarms to go off. The two men turn slightly to look back at the warp core, which is making a very loud, sickening noise.
EXT. SPACE
A green gas begins to flush out through the starboard warp pylon, so much that it soon causes the vents to blow out, tearing chunks of the hull and covering armor away with it. We quickly pan to see the other pursuing Tellarite ship closing on Enterprise very rapidly, firing several missiles as it comes. Enterprise’s plasma batteries open fire, attempting to destroy the incoming missiles.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol and Travis eye the main viewscreen, watching the Tellarite ship coming right for them. Just then, we see eight missiles streak by, heading right for their tormentor.
REED
(wryly)
That oughtta make ‘em think twice.
The Tellarite fires its weapons at the Enterprise’s incoming missiles, attempting to destroy them, but it doesn’t change course or slow down.
T’POL
Helm, full reverse.
Travis adjusts the appropriate controls.
TRAVIS
Aye, Sub-Commander, all engines back full.
The forward progress of the Tellarite ship seems to slow down, but it doesn’t stop.
T’POL
Weapon status Major?
Reed doesn’t even look up from his viewer to answer.
REED
Laser cannons still recharging, missile launchers will be ready to fire momentarily.
T’POL
Maintain fire.
REED
I intend to, Ma’am.
T’Pol cuts him a quick look without really realizing it as she activates her comm. panel.
T’POL
Bridge to Engineering.
There is a brief BEAT before Trip responds.
TRIP (COMM. VOICE)
(irritated)
I’m a little busy at the moment Sub-Commander….
(beat, calmer)
What do you need?
T’Pol’s expression sours almost imperceptibly at Trip’s gruff tone.
T’POL
How much longer do you require to vent the warp core?
TRIP (COMM. VOICE)
Thirty seconds and counting.
There is a loud “clang” in the background.
TRIP (COMM. VOICE, CONT’D)
Provided everythin’ holds together in the meantime…
T’POL
I am sure you will endeavor to ensure that outcome, Commander.
T’Pol quickly turns off her comm. panel. She looks up to see Reed firing another spread of missiles at the Tellarite ship hounding them, keeping the Tellarites busy for the moment.
T’POL
Set an escape course that takes us close to the Tellarite ship.
We change angles to see Travis’s shocked reaction to the order. He hesitates for a moment.
TRAVIS
(nervously)
Aye, plotting a course…
Travis begins working the computer portion of his console.
A large explosion blossoms on the screen. T’Pol looks at the source of the explosion, performing calculations in her head.
T’POL
(confused)
Did the other Tellarite vessel succumb to the damage we inflicted?
Reed looks up from his viewer and does a quick check of his other monitors.
REED
Negative, Sub-Commander. Seems we’ve found ourselves a friend.
EXT. SPACE
We focus on the remaining Tellarite warship as it continues to hound Enterprise. Off in the distance, we can make out the shape of an incoming Andorian cruiser. It opens fire, striking the Tellarite ship and inflicting heavy damage to the Tellarite’s armor. The Tellarite ship takes evasive action, momentarily forgetting about wounded Enterprise.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
T’Pol watches the exchange of fire on the viewscreen, her face full of resolve.
T’POL
Now Ensign Mayweather!
Travis jams the impulse throttles forward and lets the ship’s computer follow the course he plotted into it, keeping a hand on the yoke as a precaution.
Reed turns on his comm. panel.
REED
Fire control teams, target the Tellarite ship and open fire at all targets of opportunity!
Reed turns his comm. panel off and goes back to his viewer.
EXT. SPACE
We watch from a distance as Enterprise closes on the Tellarite ship, firing one last spread of missiles. The Andorian cruiser continues to hound the Tellarite ship, its blue energy weapons burning horrible scars into its hull every time they hit their target. The Tellarite ship fights back valiantly, giving the Andorian ship a run for its money.
Coming within range, Enterprise’s plasma batteries open fire on the Tellarite ship, inflicting significant damage to the black ship. This draws the ire of the Tellarite ship, which now divides its fire between the Andorian cruiser and Enterprise. Enterprise, already not in any shape for a fight, takes even more damage to its scarred hull as she changes course to retreat. The Andorian cruiser does its best to keep the Tellarite warship occupied, but Enterprise takes several more hits before it can put some distance between them.
INT. ENTERPRISE – ENGINEERING
The ship shudders from one last hit as Trip watches the many monitors on the main console with growing concern.
TRIP
(frustrated)
Well, this just keeps gettin’ better and better….
Kelby stops talking to Linquist over the railing and turns around to face Trip.
KELBY
(apprehensively)
What is it?
TRIP
The antimatter containment system looks like it might up an’ fail on us; better get ready to dump it.
Trip activates the comm. panel as Kelby shakes his head in mixed disgust and resignation; this sort of thing is clearly not what he signed up for.
TRIP
Engineering to Bridge!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Report.
TRIP
We’re lookin’ at losin’ antimatter containment!
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Should the ship be evacuated?
TRIP
Not yet. I’d recommend ejectin’ the antimatter storage pods first, but we’re not quite there yet.
T’POL (COMM. VOICE)
Very well. If the problem escalates, inform me immediately.
Trip turns off the comm. panel yet again and shakes his head.
TRIP
(muttering, joking)
That’s gettin’ real old, real fast.
Trip and Kelby exchange smiles briefly, but Kelby suddenly becomes serious.
KELBY
We need to get these conduits sealed up. Our suits aren’t going to protect us forever.
(beat)
How much longer do you think we can stay in here before…
TRIP
As long as we have to Lieutenant; as long as we have to…
(beat)
Listen, I can keep an eye on this, you should help ‘em out on those conduits.
Kelby nods his head, completely understanding the implications of Trip’s answer. Trip gives Kelby a look that the younger man seems to draw strength from. Kelby gives Trip one last small smile before turning and making his way to the nearest ladder to the lower level of the room.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The Navigator and Operations Manager put out a small fire in their portion of the bridge, and we can see that some of their other equipment hasn’t faired well either.
The Chief Petty Officer sitting at Damage Control checks his console, looking over the information that scrolls down several of the monitors at his station.
CPO
Damage control teams have finished sealing up the hull breaches, but there are reports of heavy damage all over the ship from overloads.
T’POL
Casualties?
CPO
(off console)
No count at this time, but there are several reports of deaths, and I’m guessing that there will be at as least twice as many injuries.
T’Pol nods her head, thanking him for the information. She begins to plan her next move when she hears a high-pitched, annoying sound. Her brows furrow.
T’POL
What is that source of that noise?
Everyone looks up from what they are doing, as if they can’t hear anything.
REED
(confused)
What noise?
The noise intensifies, and the rest of the crew can now hear it. Reed works his console, scanning for the source of the unusual noise.
REED
(off console, surprised)
There’s an energy field building up around the ship.
T’POL
Elaborate.
Reed shakes his head.
REED
I don’t know what to tell you, Sub-Commander; my sensors can’t make much sense of it.
(beat, off console)
All I can tell you is that it’s intensifying.
EXT. SPACE
We focus on Enterprise as she limps away from the fight between the Andorian and Tellarite ships. Suddenly, there’s a bright flash of white light that starts at the stern, and seems to consume the ship. When the flash dissipates, the ship is gone. In the background we can see more bright flashes of light as we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Continue to Act Four
