TEASER
FADE IN:
We begin with a series of scenes from the pilot:
T'POL’S VOICE
Previously on Star Trek: Foundations…
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI - CAPITOL CITY - PUBLIC SQUARE
We see a large public square, not unlike the Roman Forum, with an elevated stage area set in front of a large neo-classical governmental building. An ORATOR stands in front of a podium with a microphone, surrounded by several others in business suits. A large crowd has gathered to listen to the speech already in progress, which we can vaguely hear over the loudspeakers. We slowly zoom in, and the words of the orator become clearer. We finally get close enough to see who the orator is, GOVERNOR DWIGHT FRANKLIN, the governor United Earth had appointed as governor of Alpha Centauri.
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
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!
Governor Franklin leans over to the microphone.
GOVERNOR FRANKLIN
Earth will have no choice now but to grant us our independence!
A few people in the crowd start to clap, and it builds exponentially until the entire crowd is clapping and cheering. We pan to look among the crowd, and though it’s difficult at first, we can see one sole member of the crowd who is silent. We zoom in to get a closer look at him, and see that it is the sole dissenter who had challenged Governor Franklin, a man named TITUS CHEET.
TITUS
(softly)
It looks like history might repeat itself again…
INT. ENTERPRISE - CAPTAIN’S PRIVATE DINING ROOM
Captain Archer faces a monitor; displayed on the screen are two familiar faces: Admirals Forrest and Narsu.
NARSU
Alpha Centauri has rebelled and declared its independence.
Archer's features grow concerned.
INT. ALPHA CENTAURI - PRIVATE RESIDENCE - BASEMENT
Titus Cheet sits in a darkened room, the only light filtering in from small rectangular windows near the ceiling - indicating that we are indeed in the basement of what could be anyone’s home on Alpha Centauri. Titus faces a small computer monitor, surrounded by several of his followers.
TITUS
(agitated)
I’m asking you to provide a peacekeeping force, so there needn’t be any further bloodshed.
We pan around to look over Titus’s shoulder, and see that he is speaking to Vulcan Ambassador SKON.
SKON
You are not even the legitimate leader of Alpha Centauri, let alone United Earth and the Federated Colonies. I do not believe that your President would be pleased if he knew that we were even speaking, certainly not about this subject.
Titus’s features harden.
TITUS
What if I could establish myself as the leader of Alpha Centauri? Would you answer our call for aid then?
Skon raises an eyebrow as he considers the new scenario.
SKON
There is a possibility, but I doubt my government would give it much consideration; the risk to our relationship with Earth would be great.
TITUS
I also think the Vulcan Alliance has more than a little pull with Earth. If you would be willing to act as a mediator in our dispute, I believe that Earth would listen.
SKON
(thoughtfully)
So you are asking for a mediator, not peacekeepers?
TITUS
Peacekeepers would be necessary to keep the situation under control while mediation takes place, but yes, we are asking for Vulcan to mediate this dispute.
SKON
You understand, of course, that a Vulcan mediation team would be completely impartial.
TITUS
As long as there is no bias towards Earth, or against Alpha Centauri, I am satisfied.
SKON
Very well, I will pass that information along as well. However, there is still the matter that you are not the legitimate ruler of your planet.
TITUS
(distantly)
I will be, soon enough.
Skon seems to understand the implication, and a flicker of distaste crosses his stoic features as he inclines his head in a farewell nod.
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI - CAPITOL BUILDING
Titus and Oscar lead a large group of people, all dressed in long coats, up the stairs of the capitol building. Four guards move forward from their positions at the door and stand in their way.
TITUS
(resolutely)
We are citizens of Alpha Centauri, and we have a petition for Governor Franklin.
GUARD 1
Sir, the Governor is extremely busy and I’m, I’m afraid this will have to wait until-
A large explosion goes off in the distance, making everyone flinch. One of Titus’s followers nervously grabs at his weapon, concealed under his long coat. One of the guards sees the weapon and reacts instinctively.
GUARD 3
Gun!
The guard fires his plasma rifle, striking the young man in the chest and killing him instantly. What follows is a blur that we have trouble following, even as the action slows down to half speed; several of Titus’s followers draw their weapons. The two guards directly in front of them raise their own rifles, one of them aiming directly at Titus. Oscar gets the first shot off, killing the second guard as he simultaneously dives in front of Titus.
INT. ALPHA CENTAURI CAPITOL BUILDING - LOBBY
Titus Cheet levels his weapon at Governor Franklin. He swallows hard and starts to look like he might be on the verge of tears.
TITUS
Earth made a mistake by appointing you as Governor. You could have used that; we could have used that…
(beat, becoming angry)
You could have done so much more than this…murder for hire. We could have pressed Senate harder; we could have done it all peacefully, but instead, you hired mercenaries who slaughtered our fellow human beings. They’ll never give up now! Now more will die!
Governor Franklin’s expression is unreadable, but he is definitely affected by Titus’s passionate speech. He falls to his knees, and places the barrel of a surprised Titus’s weapon against his forehead.
FRANKLIN
Nothing I can do…will ever bring them back.
(beat)
Nothing I can do…can ever make it the way it was again.
TITUS
There’s something else you can give me that’s far more valuable than your life.
(beat, off Governor Franklin’s confusion)
Your office. Make me the leader of this colony, so I can give it what it needs to survive now.
(beat)
Vulcan mediators are on their way now, but they can’t help us unless the official government requests it.
INT. ENTERPRISE - ARCHER’S OFFICE
Archer sits in his office chair, dressed in a UESPA screen-printed t-shirt with matching sweatpants, trying to stay as relaxed as he possibly can. He faces his monitor, talking to someone. We pan around to see that it’s Admiral Forrest.
FORREST
To make matters even more complicated, the Vulcan Alliance has officially recognized Alpha Centauri as an independent power.
ARCHER
(shocked)
What?
FORREST
A diplomatic envoy is being sent to mediate our…dispute over Alpha Centauri’s independence,
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI - CAPITOL CITY - PUBLIC SQUARE
Coming full circle, we watch as a Vulcan shuttle prepares to land in the same courtyard we watched the then Governor Franklin give his fiery speech in. The newly appointed Governor Titus Cheet waits with a group of his followers and a respectable number of police officers at the bottom of the capitol building’s stairs. The shuttle sets down in the wide open space of the empty courtyard, and Titus’s group starts to walk out to meet the arriving delegation. The shuttle’s door opens and a small group of Vulcan soldiers step out, establishing a protective perimeter in preparation for a robed figure to step out. Titus and the robed figure meet at the edge of their respective protectors. The robed figure reaches up and pulls the hood from his head, revealing himself to be Ambassador Skon. His hand goes up in the tradition Vulcan salute.
T'POL'S VOICE
And now, on Foundations...
FADE OUT.
FADE IN.
EXT. SPACE - HIGH ORBIT OF EARTH
A warship, nearly identical to the Lexington but bearing the name Indefatigable, passes through the frame as dozens of smaller ships - most Boomer transports - race to and from the birthplace of humanity. A massive spacedock, dwarfing everything save the planet itself, floats in orbit over Earth and it is swarming with activity. Pushing in toward the planetary atmosphere, we race forward at an impossible speed...
EXT. EARTH - GENEVA
A line of text is superimposed over the cityscape:
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.
Capital of United Earth and the Federated Colonies
The city of Geneva appears to have not changed significantly in the last two hundred years. The streets bustle with activity and the sky overhead is filled with shuttles arriving and departing. Only a single building really stands out - constructed more for utility than aesthetics, it is the headquarters of the United Earth Military. We continued forward, pressing through its walls...
INT. UNITED EARTH MILITARY COMMAND - WAR ROOM
A massive table dominates this room with an equally impressive vid-screen monitor that stretches the length of the room. The monitor is split-screened, displaying a number of obvious news channels, all focused on a single subject: the Vulcan support for Alpha Centauri. A dozen high-ranking military officers, a number of whom we've see before, sit at the table as well as several impeccably dressed civilians. Aides and junior officers clutter the room even further.
An absolutely furious expression on his face, PRESIDENT VANDERBILT gestures angrily at the wall monitor with one hand as he speaks. It's clear that he has been speaking for some time...
VANDERBILT
... and I wasn't elected so we could let the goddamned Vulcans dictate how Earth runs its government!
He spears the officers with his fiery eyes; most glance away, unable to meet his angry gaze, but a few return the look with polite masks of indifference on their faces. Among these select few is GENERAL NATHAN SUTHERLAND, the highest ranking officer of the United Earth Military.
SUTHERLAND
(deferential but not obsequious)
Sir, with all due respect...
With a sharp gesture of his hand, the President interrupts.
VANDERBILT
Don't start, General.
(beat, as he locks gazes with the general)
I am not sending a diplomat to negotiate this. Alpha Centauri is an Earth colony.
(beat, as he glares at the rest of the men and women present)
Period.
Sensing an opportunity to express his own opinion, BRIGADIER GENERAL PETROV speaks up, his thick Moscow accent coloring his words.
PETROV
Mister President, if I may?
At Vanderbilt's nod (and ignoring Sutherland's glare), the Russian man continues.
PETROV
General Bernard's task force will finish repairs and be ready to strike again within twenty hours. I recommend that she be issued orders to retake Alpha Centauri using whatever means necessary.
SUTHERLAND
(hard and angry)
The last time I checked, Petrov, the Vulcans were our allies. If we force their hand, they may respond.
(beat, with a grim expression)
With force.
(beat, as he turns his eyes to the President)
Or they may just decide to end our alliance.
PETROV
(contemptuously)
Let them. It's not like they help us much anyway. How many died because they wouldn't aid us against the Nausicaans?
For a moment, President Vanderbilt seems torn as the two generals continue to argue, their voices fading into the background noise as we focus on the president. On one hand, he clearly resents Vulcan interference in what should be a solely Terran matter and this resentment is fueling his desire to do something. At the same time, he recognizes that Earth cannot afford to lose its alliance with Vulcan. His eyes drift to the wall monitor as several of the news channels prominently display the iconic image of Ambassador Skon saluting Titus Cheet upon landing. Once more, fury overwhelms his common sense and Vanderbilt speaks loudly. All conversation ceases the moment he begins to talk.
VANDERBILT
(angry but cold)
The Vulcan Alliance does not dictate Earth policy and has clearly interfered with an internal matter. General Petrov-
Straightening in his seat, the addressed general awaits his instructions.
VANDERBILT
I want you to draw up a plan of battle that keeps our best interests in mind.
(beat, on the general's eager nod)
Retake Alpha Centauri.
He rises from his seat, a clear indication for the generals to rise as well and we focus on General Sutherland's concerned expression as we ...
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
Continue to Act One
