TEASER
FADE IN:
We begin a recap of the first half.
ARCHER’S VOICE
Previously on Foundations…
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI – CAPITOL CITY – PUBLIC SQUARE
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
It is obvious now that United Earth has lost touch and that our interests are no longer their interests.
(beat)
It is our duty to declare independence from Earth, and our responsibility, for our children's future, to make our way in the universe free from Earth rule!
EXT. SPACE – CLOSE ORBIT OF ALPHA CENTAURI
The large Tellarite ship slowly makes its way into our shot of the pristine planet below.
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI – CAPITOL CITY – PUBLIC SQUARE
Governor Franklin smiles heartily and looks skyward with the crowd and his bodyguards.
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
This time, we aren’t alone.
A black-clad figure leisurely steps out onto the stage. Unlike the others his head is not obstructed by a helmet, and his porcine features stand out proudly in the sunlight as he walks up to Governor Franklin and extends his hand. Governor Franklin smiles and accepts it, generously shaking his hand before turning back to his podium.
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
My fellow Centaurians, allow me to introduce our new friends.
Governor Franklin steps to the side and motions for ADMIRAL KRAV to take a turn at the podium. He clears his throat briefly before speaking.
ADMIRAL KRAV
Nothing the Earth military has can harm us; our mere presence is enough to achieve victory.
INT. ENTERPRISE – ARCHER’S OFFICE
T’POL
Sub-Commander T’Pol reporting for duty, Captain.
ARCHER
(not sounding very welcoming)
Welcome aboard, Sub-Commander.
TRIP
(sarcastically)
Yep. This is goin’ to be real interestin’...
INT. ENTERPRISE – CAPTAIN’S PRIVATE DINING ROOM
Archer watches as a monitor changes form its normal status display to show Archer two familiar faces: Forrest and Narsu.
ARCHER
Gentlemen, something I can do for you?
FORREST
Something for Earth, Jon; something you’re not going to like any more than I do.
ARCHER
What is it?
NARSU
Alpha Centauri has rebelled and declared its independence.
Archer’s features grow concerned.
FORREST
The military is assembling a fleet to retake the system, but it will take them some time to get organized. In the mean time, Enterprise is the most capable ship anywhere near Alpha Centauri. You’re armed, and you have a security detail on board.
(beat)
The President has authorized you to take a police action if necessary, but until the UEM task force gets there, you’re on your own. Attempt to negotiate a peaceful resolution, but make it clear that they must stand down if bloodshed is to be avoided.
(beat, sighs)
If necessary, land your contingent of Security Forces, along with as many crewmembers as you can spare and arrest the Centaurian government officials.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The angry porcine face of the TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN appears on the main viewscreen.
TELLARITE FLEET CAPTAIN
Withdraw at once, Earther, or we will destroy that puny ship of yours.
Archer is momentarily surprised at the fact that the Tellarite speaks English but his surprise is quickly replaced by anger that he keeps in check...barely. He isn’t able to hide it completely.
ARCHER
This is Captain Jonathan Archer of the United Earth Ship Enterprise. You are the invader here, interfering in an internal matter. Your presence here is construed an act of war against United Earth, and you are ordered to withdraw immediately. If you do, this incident will be overlooked, and no further action will be taken on our part.
The Tellarite laughs at Archer.
REED
Two ships are breaking off and moving to intercept.
ARCHER
On screen.
The viewscreen changes, offering a closer view of the two black ships moving in formation toward the screen. Both of them look more than a match for Enterprise.
EXT. SPACE
Both Tellarite ships fire gold beams of light, and we pan to see them strike Enterprise. Electricity arcs over the portion of the hull the beams hit, which is now blackened. The beams fire again, and chunks of the armor break off, turning into dust as it drifts away. More electricity arcs over that section of the hull.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Archer slams his fist into his console.
ARCHER
Damn!
(beat, reluctantly)
Helm, take us out of this system, best possible speed.
Travis, already busy trying to dodge incoming fire, doesn’t bother to acknowledge the command and simply follows through with it.
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise performs one last maneuver to avoid a salvo of gold energy beams, then straightens out and speeds away from their origin. The blast shutters on the nacelles open, and the ship streaks away at warp just as several missiles reach its former location.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIEFING ROOM
T’POL
As I said before, the Tellarites are a crude species, but they are also highly advanced. Vulcan made first contact with them one hundred twenty two years ago, but they elected to remain isolated.
(beat)
As you surmised, their weapons are nearly as advanced as Vulcan ships. They have no shielding technology, however, and depend on a thick armor plating to protect their ships instead.
(beat, considering)
The Tellarites advanced at a far more rapid pace than Earth, and soon made contact with the Andorians, an equally passionate species likewise driven by emotion, and with whom they’ve been in conflict ever since.
ARCHER
These Andorians, are they friendly?
T’POL
Not especially towards aliens. They will deal with them on a limited basis, but they tend to have a mistrust of all non-Andorians, especially after their initial contact with the Tellarites.
Archer becomes disappointed at the information.
ARCHER
I don’t suppose we could talk them into helping us out the way Alpha Centauri got the Tellarites to help them, could we?
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Archer holds his chin as he tries to look through the hazy clouds that cover the planet.
T’POL
The Andorian outpost has been reduced to rubble.
(beat, studies her readings again)
All structures within sensor range have also been destroyed Captain.
EXT. OUTPOST CITY – COURTYARD
The shuttlepods set down in what has to be one of the few areas in the city clear of debris. Close by, we can see the ruins of several low buildings of an alien design, which is different from the rest of the city.
INT. LARGE CAVERN
The away team enters a large cavern, so large that we can’t see anything but the wall around the opening the away team has come in through.
ARCHER
The reading is pretty strong in here; split up into your teams again and try to localize it.
INT. NARROW TUNNEL
Archer, Reed, Travis, Phlox, Cole, and the Sergeant make their way through a narrow tunnel, which leads deeper underground.
INT. SMALL CAVERN
This cavern isn’t nearly as large as the other one; we can see the rock that surrounds the team faintly reflect the light from their flashlights, though there is an unusual dark area to one side that the light can’t penetrate, which the floor angles down toward.
REED
Is that reading getting any better Captain?
ARCHER
Yes and no.
(beat, off scanner)
It seems to be getting stronger in this general direction, but…
Just then the cavern begins to shake around them, throwing them all off balance. Archer, the closest to the mysterious black area, steps on some loose rocks and falls. The shaking ground sends him rolling into the darkness. He lets out a gasp as he grips onto the edge, barely keeping him from falling into the void. We pan to look over the edge at him, and watch as the dim lights of his scanner soon disappear.
REED
Captain!
Cole and the Sergeant manage to get to Reed and grip him around his abdomen, adding their strength to the rescue effort. They grunt with effort, but the rock beneath them begins to crumble. The three of them give one last effort, but just as Archer starts to get up and over the ledge, it collapses, and falls away. Reed loses his grip as they both begin to fall. Cole and the Sergeant manage to stop Reed from falling, but Reed loses his grip on Archer. Reed can only stare in horror as Archer falls without a sound into the darkness.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Trip stumbles out of the turbolift as the ship takes another hit.
TRIP
Who the hell is shootin’ up my ship!?
T’Pol, sitting in the command chair, looks over her shoulder at him to note his presence, then quickly goes back to her console.
T’POL
Three Andorian cruisers have dropped out of warp and have started firing on us.
Suddenly, there is a hum as six columns of bright blue light appear in the forward part of the room. Everyone but T’Pol shields their eyes, and are taken completely off guard when armed Andorian soldiers appear out of the light. Picard pulls his sidearm as he hits his comm. panel.
PICARD
Intruder alert! Security detail to the Bridge!
The Andorian closest to him points his rifle at Picard while the others spread out to cover the room.
ANDORIAN FARRIER
(in Andorian)
[Surrender! Put down your weapon!]
Picard’s face turns stony; he’s not sure what the Andorian Farrier just shouted at him, but body language truly is universal. He keeps his weapon trained on the Andorian Farrier.
PICARD
All hands, stand your ground.
Picard’s eye twitches slightly as he faces his impending death.
ARCHER’S VOICE
And now the conclusion.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. VOID BOTTOM
Archer floats motionless, mere inches off of the perfectly flat floor, and illuminated only by the lights on his environmental suit. We focus on his face and watch as he takes a shallow breath, proof that he’s still alive. Suddenly his eyes fly open, and his face reflects his fear and confusion. We briefly look through Archer’s faceplate from his point of view at the pitch black above him. We focus on his face again as his breathing becomes rapid from his growing sense of panic. He quickly pushes the panic aside and slows his breathing down. He flops his arms and legs around, vainly attempting to get up or roll over. Mysteriously, he’s gently released and allowed to stand. Archer’s curiosity grows, and he takes a look around, but there isn’t much to see here. He moves on.
INT. VOID BOTTOM – DOORWAY
By chance Archer comes to a narrow doorway, which is only visible by the contrast of Archer’s lights reflecting off of the obsidian walls that frame it. Archer pauses to consider it for a moment, then enters it.
INT. VOID PASSAGEWAY(S)
Archer cautiously makes his way down the passageway, quickly coming to an intersection, and another, and another. Archer begins to worry that he might get lost, but just as he’s about to turn back, he sees light coming from one of the passages ahead. Following it, he shields his eyes as the light grows brighter, until he finally comes to the end of the passageway and out into…
INT. CHAMBER OF LIGHT
…a massive room flooded with a pure white light that seems to come from everywhere, and nowhere at the same time. Archer squints, giving his eyes time to adjust to the new light level. When they do, he’s amazed at what he sees – the room goes on in all directions as far as he can see, and is dominated by a large, computer-like machine. Archer proceeds into the room, taking in as much as he can with his eyes.
Archer comes to a narrow passage that cuts through the machine. Looking down it, he can see a glowing cylinder of light, with a humanoid alien within it. Archer starts down the passage.
ARCHER
Hello!?
(beat)
Can you hear me?
Archer waits a moment for a response, but gets none.
ARCHER
If you can understand me, I’m Captain Jonathan Archer of the United Earth Ship Enterpr-
Archer slowly begins to cringe with pain and falls to his knees. He tries to put his hands to his temples as best he can through the helmet of this environmental suit, but his pain only gets worse, finally eliciting a strangled gasp of pain. Then, just as suddenly as he started, he stops, his arms dropping limply to his sides as his eyes roll up into his head. He teeters on his knees for a moment, then falls forward onto his face, his faceplate making a load clap as it hits the floor.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
Continue to Act One
