ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE ALPHA CENTAURI A
As before, we open with a shot of the EX-01 encased within the spindly arms of the drydock. Movement can be seen and, as we PUSH IN closer, we can see that the motion is slowly retracting catwalks and station umbilicals. With a muted growl, the sublight engines of Enterprise ignite with a flash and the UESPA ship begins to creep forward.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
Seated in his command chair and wearing a tense expression, Captain Archer watches quietly as Ensign Mayweather slowly feeds additional power to the engines; the ensign is wearing what appears to be part of an EV Suit sans the bulky chest piece and helmet, a clear indication that he was assisting Commander Tucker's team.
With a hiss, the turbolift door slides open and Sub-Commander T'Pol emerges, followed closely by Commander Tucker. Both are wearing the same pressure suit that Travis is currently wearing. Tucker makes a beeline for the Damage Control station while T'Pol wordlessly ejects the officer manning the Science station.
ARCHER
Status?
REED
Still having problems bringing some of the hull polarizers online, sir.
At that, Trip changes course and takes a look at the major's tactical board, a frown on his face. Without asking permission, the engineer begins pressing buttons, earning him an annoyed glare from Reed.
ARCHER
How long until we clear the drydock, Mister Mayweather?
MAYWEATHER
One minute, thirty seconds, sir.
Archer glances in T'Pol's direction and she seems to recognize her cue, even though her attention is focused on the viewer before her.
T'POL
Lexington strike group maneuvering into attack formation.
(beat as she hits several keys)
All Vulcan ships beginning defensive maneuvers.
Archer frowns.
ARCHER
How long until they're in firing range?
T'POL
At their current speed, four minutes, forty seconds.
TUCKER
Cap'n...
(off of Archer's look)
We've still got a couple of hull breaches on the starboard side...that's preventing the polarization emitters from functioning properly.
ARCHER
(with a frown)
Do what you can.
(beat, to Mayweather)
Travis?
MAYWEATHER
Thirty seconds, sir.
SATO
Sir, Lexington is broadcasting a comm. signal. I think it's meant for everyone.
ARCHER
Let's see it.
The viewscreen coalesces into an image of Bernard in mid-sentence.
BERNARD
-order of the President of United Earth. Any vessel that attempts to interfere with these lawful orders will be considered hostile and treated accordingly.
T'POL
Lexington strike group will be within firing range in three minutes, fifty seconds.
REED
Sir, should I charge weapons?
For a BEAT, Archer appears completely overwhelmed by the situation. He glances to his right and Major Reed, then to his left and the stoic Sub-Commander, before returning his eyes to the viewscreen.
SATO
Vulcan ship Ti'Mur responding, sir; all frequencies.
MAYWEATHER
We've cleared moorings...
The image on the viewscreen splits to reveal COLONEL VANIK, a stern and fierce-looking patrician of a Vulcan.
VANIK
Alpha Centauri is under the protection of the Vulcan Alliance. Attempts to land military troops will be met with force.
Again, we focus on Archer as he struggles with an impossible decision.
T'POL
Lexington strike group will be within firing range in three minutes.
REED
Captain? The weapons?
Archer glances once to Trip, whose attention is now entirely focused on his Damage Control board, and then to Hoshi, who is staring at the viewscreen with wide and frightened eyes. The captain blinks and it's as if a newfound resolve comes over him.
ARCHER
Negative on the weapons, Major.
(to Mayweather)
Travis, take us in, one-half impulse.
Several eyes turn to Archer in surprise.
MAYWEATHER
What heading, sir?
ARCHER
(confident)
Put us between them.
Even T'Pol displays a bit of surprise at that.
REED
Sir!
Archer shoots the major a quelling glance.
ARCHER
No weapons, Major. We are not going to shoot at our allies.
(beat)
Period.
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE ALPHA CENTAURI A
Sublight engines burning bright, Enterprise rapidly closes the distance and enters the space between the two maneuvering fleets.
INT. LEXINGTON - COMMAND DECK
A perplexed expression on her face, General Bernard stares at the image of Enterprise entering the combat engagement zone. Petrov, who is standing nearby, looks almost apoplectic.
PETROV
What the hell is that idiot doing?
BERNARD
I don't know.
(beat, to an officer)
Communications. Get me Enterprise.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
The atmosphere on the bridge is almost tangible. Archer is now pacing back and forth behind Ensign Mayweather, his eyes riveted on the viewscreen.
REED
Multiple target locks...sir, we've got to do something!
ARCHER
We are doing something, Major.
Reed shoots a quick glare at the captain before glancing back down at his console; the frustration in his expression is understandable: he's not being allowed to do anything. At the same time, we can see T'Pol study Archer with a curious expression.
SATO
Incoming transmission, sir.
(beat, off of new information on her panel)
It's the Lexington!
Archer nods.
ARCHER
Onscreen.
General Bernard's image appears on the viewscreen.
BERNARD
Captain Archer, mind telling me what you're doing?
ARCHER
(off her glare)
Trying to prevent a war.
The general's expression darkens even further.
BERNARD
(annoyed)
We've been over this before, Archer. Remove-
ARCHER
(interrupting)
No, we haven't!
(off her glare)
Think this through, General! If you give the order and shots are fired, we will be at war. Not with pirates or marauders or renegades...
(beat, with passion)
But with the Vulcans.
(with more passion)
Our allies!
T'POL
Firing range in one minute.
ARCHER
Humans will kill Vulcans and Vulcans will kill humans.
(frustrated)
Over a piece of real estate!
INT. LEXINGTON - COMMAND DECK
Bernard is motionless as she listens to and stares at Archer's image.
ARCHER
Hundreds have already died over this planet! How many more have to die?
UEM LIEUTENANT (OS)
Firing range achieved.
ARCHER
(continuing over the lieutenant)
Thousands? Hundreds of thousands?
(beat, soft and intense)
Millions?
General Petrov takes a half step toward Bernard and lowers his voice.
PETROV
(soft)
April, we have firing range.
She nods absently.
BERNARD
I want firing solutions.
On the viewer, Archer's expression is tense.
ARCHER
General-
BERNARD
(interrupting)
Enough!
(off his sudden silence)
I am a soldier, Captain, and I do not have the luxury of questioning my orders.
ARCHER
(intense)
A good soldier knows when to obey orders and when to question them.
(beat, off her expression of surprise)
You said that two years ago after you redirected a convoy headed to Denobula because your instincts warned you of danger.
(beat)
I've read the reports. Your hunch paid off and the convoy avoided a Nausicaan raiding party lurking in ambush. Thousands were saved because you obeyed the intent of your orders but not the letter of them.
BERNARD
(soft)
That was different...
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
As if sensing a weakness, Archer presses on. Around him, the bridge crew watches in silence.
ARCHER
Was it? You followed your instincts then and they were right.
(beat, off her conflicted expression)
What are your instincts saying right now?
From her expression, it's pretty clear what the answer to that question is.
ARCHER
If you order the fleet to attack, this time thousands will die. Humans and Vulcans.
(beat)
And all because the president doesn't have the full picture.
An almost sneer on his face, General Petrov enters the image.
PETROV
(contemptuous)
And I suppose you do?
ARCHER
No.
(beat)
But I at least have a slightly clearer picture than you did, General Petrov.
(off his look, to Bernard)
Please, General...don't do this.
INT. LEXINGTON - COMMAND DECK
Still an image of indecision, General Bernard glances around the bridge of the Lexington, studying the crew awaiting her orders. All of them are young and many still bear injuries from the engagements in the mini-series.
UEM LIEUTENANT
Firing solutions are plotted and programmed, General. Fleet is standing by for your instructions.
Bernard nods and swallows visibly.
BERNARD
Status of Vulcan ships?
SENSOR OPERATOR
Holding steady at five thousand kilometers.
ARCHER
Don't do this, General...
PETROV
(angry)
Shut up, Archer!
(beat, to comm. officer)
End transmission!
Bernard shoots Petrov a glare.
BERNARD
(to comm. officer)
Belay that order.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
A hopeful glint can be briefly seen in Archer's expression.
ARCHER
(diplomatic)
Thank you.
She gives him a disgruntled look.
BERNARD
Don't.
(glancing to something off screen)
Weapon status!
UEM LIEUTENANT (OS)
One hundred percent, ma'am!
The hopeful glint disappears from Archer's face.
ARCHER
(soft)
How many more have to die over this planet?
Bernard glances away, as if she is about to give a command and Archer speaks quickly.
ARCHER
(passionate)
I've seen the end result of that sort of madness, General. It's a dead planet, filled with nothing more than corpses and ghosts of a long forgotten world.
Bernard pauses as he continues. We can see the uncertainty in her eyes.
ARCHER
(growing even more passionate)
It's a planetary graveyard that no one remembers. A world so utterly ruined that nothing could survive on its surface a thousand years later. A world that was home to a species completely forgotten by history.
The silence is nearly deafening.
ARCHER
How many dead worlds will we leave in our wake? Will Earth be one of them? Or Vulcan?
(beat)
Or Mars?
She reacts slightly to that although it is barely perceptible. Instead of pressing the point, Archer stands quietly, his expression intent.
INT. LEXINGTON - COMMAND DECK
The bridge of the warship is eerily silent, broken only by the distant hum of the main drive and the sounds of computer operations. Bernard frowns as she again glances over the too young faces of her bridge crew. Finally...
BERNARD
Colonel Vanik.
The viewer split-screens, revealing an image of the stern looking Vulcan.
BERNARD
Lexington will be entering a standard orbit above Alpha Centauri.
(beat)
We do not have hostile intent.
With a nearly indecipherable expression on her face, she glances to the communications officer.
BERNARD
(to comm officer)
From fleet commander to all ships:
(beat)
Stand down from Battle Stations.
And from that, we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
Continue to Act Five
