ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE ALPHA CENTAURI A
As we have before, we open with a shot of the EX-01 encased within the drydock; like previous shots, it is crawling with activity. This time, however, we press in and focus on a group of EV-suited figures hard at work. As we close in, we can see that the four of them are working to free a large chunk of armor plating that has been severely warped from weapons fire. One of the figures - Commander Tucker – is operating the drydock crane with a hand-portable remote control while the other three figures work with vacuum torches or high-tech versions of a crowbar. Among the other three, we recognize Sub-Commander T'Pol and SENIOR CHIEF LINQUIST as they work on the warped armor plate.
As we draw closer, we can hear comm. chatter taking place. Most of it involves status reports being broadcast and much of that is indecipherable (as it utilizes foreign acronyms and phrases). One voice, however, is clear and distinct.
DISGRUNTLED CREWMAN (COMM VOICE)
...cking Vulcans. We wouldn't even be in this damned situation if it weren't for them.
Tucker frowns and shoots a glance at T'Pol. There is no indication of her reaction to the comments being broadcast on an open channel.
DISGRUNTLED CREWMAN (COMM VOICE, CONT’D)
We should just let the military do their damned jobs and-
Tucker interrupts: he's had enough.
TUCKER
Masaro!
DISGRUNTLED CREWMAN (COMM VOICE)
Sir?
TUCKER
(hard)
Shut up and go back to work.
The three figures working on the plate in front of Tucker step back a BEAT later.
LINQUIST
Cable secured, sir.
As he speaks, we can see three cables from the mini-crane wrapped around hard-points on the armor plate. The fourth figure - CREWMAN MENDOZA - steps slowly away from the plate, his movements exaggerated in the null-gravity of space.
TUCKER
Good. Everyone get clear...
Trip waits until all four have moved a sufficient distance from the plate; both Mendoza and T'Pol move closer to Tucker. All three - including T'Pol - give Tucker a thumbs-up signal and he begins working the crane remote. The cables become taut immediately and the heavy armor plate shifts slightly but refuses to come free; the damage it took during their battle in the mini-series has clearly wedged the plate in far too firmly. For a BEAT, the crane cables and the plate struggle against one another.
Focus on T'Pol: Through her EV Suit helmet, we can see her frowning.
Her POV: As the cables from the crane struggle against the damaged plate, we can see the slab of metal slowly giving, the side farthest from Tucker obviously coming loose first. The plate buckles and one of the cables quivers...
Back to scene: Her eyes wide, T'Pol reaches for Tucker JUST as the plate is torn free at the same moment that one of the quivering cables breaks. The Vulcan's timing is impeccable: she seizes Trip's EV-suit and pulls him hard toward her. Over the comm., we can hear his startled squawk even as the slab of armor narrowly misses him; the flying cable, however, slices across Crewman Mendoza's chest with brutal force, lifting him up off of the hull and sending him into a tumbling spin.
LINQUIST
Mendoza!
Even as T'Pol is releasing her grip on Tucker's EV-suit, Chief Linquist is springing toward the spinning crewman in a high, bounding jump - a jump that would only be possible in zero-gee. Mini-thrusters, integrated into the senior chief's suit, propel him farther and faster than would be normally possible and he quickly grabs the tumbling crewman. The hiss of escaping oxygen from Mendoza's suit is bad enough but the gaping slash in the protective gear is even worse.
LINQUIST
I need a sealer!
Bounding forward in that impossible jump, Tucker covers the distance in a matter of seconds, already carrying a cylindrical tube in one hand. At once, the commander begins to apply the sealer upon the gash - at first, it brings to mind a huge tube of toothpaste but the "paste" hardens almost at once and the hiss of escaping oxygen begins to fade. As he works, Trip speaks, his eyes never leaving the gash that he is sealing up.
TUCKER
How is he?
LINQUIST
Unconscious.
(beat, as he studies the crewman's face)
Still breathing though.
TUCKER
Thank God for that...
Behind them in the distance, we can see T'Pol work the crane remote, directing the loose armor plate to a large stockpile of other pulled plates. At the same time, she is speaking over the comm.
T'POL
(resolutely calm)
T'Pol to Enterprise. Medical emergency. Have trauma team standing by at airlock...
TUCKER
(picking up on her minute pause)
Airlock C-4.
T'POL
C-4.
Tucker finishes the sealing job and glances up at Linquist.
TUCKER
Let's go...
INT. ENTERPRISE - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE AIRLOCK
Captain Archer runs through the mostly empty corridor as a soft alarm - different from the battle stations alarm – echoes around them. He rounds the corner and comes to a stop, noting the impatient expression on Doctor Phlox's face as the Denobulan waits outside the airlock door. Two other crewmen are nearby, both wearing the scrubs of medical assistants; they are rapidly assembling a stretcher.
The airlock door cycles open and two suited figures enter, carrying a third. Behind them, a smaller figure follows. Phlox moves forward at once, running a handheld scanner over the limp figure of Crewman Mendoza. His expressive face is grim.
PHLOX
Stretcher.
The two medical assistants are there in a flash, the assembled stretcher at the ready. Moving as carefully as they can, the two suited figures place the unmoving crewman on the stretcher.
ARCHER
Doctor?
PHLOX
He has several broken ribs but I haven't detected any internal bleeding.
(beat)
I will know more when I get him to sickbay.
As the doctor nods to the two med-techs, we can see the three suited figures removing their helmets in the background of the scene. An expression of surprise flashes across the captain's face at their identities.
ARCHER
(to Phlox)
Let me know the moment you know something, Doctor.
(beat, to Trip)
What happened?
TUCKER
Not sure, sir. Everything happened so fast...
(beat, to T'Pol in a voice completely devoid of the usual disdain)
Thank you.
The Vulcan nods to him, ignoring the captain's curious glance.
T'POL
(to Archer)
One of the crane cables was deficient and gave under the stress.
Quietly, Linquist gives Tucker a look and Trip nods to him, dismissing him from duty without speaking a word. The senior chief immediately heads in the direction that Phlox took.
ARCHER
Wonderful.
(beat)
I take it this is the sort of mistake you were talking about?
TUCKER
(grim)
Yes sir.
ARCHER
Dammit.
(beat)
Do what you have to, Trip. We're running out of time.
Archer turns away and we
FADE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
Despite the situation, the command deck of the EX-01 is strangely devoid of significant activity. Major Reed and Ensign Sato are at their stations in addition to a number of crewmen attending to their duties; there is no one at the Helm board. Displayed on the main viewer is a news feed in which the journalist is on the launch deck of a UEM ship. The atmosphere on the bridge is tense.
ARCHER (COMM VOICE)
Archer to bridge. Stand down from medical emergency.
(beat)
Ensign Sato, contact Ambassador Skon.
As Reed inputs a command on his board to silence the alarm, Hoshi touches her earpiece.
SATO
Aye, sir.
Silence again descends on the bridge for a LONG BEAT as Hoshi inputs a few commands. Finally...
SATO
(hesitant)
Major?
Reed glances up.
SATO (CONT’D)
What sort of weapons are on the Lexington?
The major looks momentarily surprised before responding, reciting statistics from memory.
REED
Four Mark Twelve twin-barreled railguns capable of firing one 26 centimeter round per second with an unlimited effective range. Three Mark Thirty-Six laser cannons, two fore, one aft. Four Mark Nineteen missile racks, and a close-in weapon system.
With each additional weapon system named, Hoshi winces. Reed cannot help but to notice this.
SATO
What about the Vulcan ships? How do they compare?
The major frowns.
REED
I don't know, Ensign. That information is classified.
Hoshi suddenly looks sad.
SATO
I suppose we're going to find out though...
REED
Yes, I suppose we will.
A hint of concern lurks in the major's eyes as the ensign returns to her duties. Off his expression we
CUT TO:
INT. CAPITOL BUILDING - GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
Once again standing before the wall monitor, Ambassador Skon and Governor Cheet face the image of Captain Archer. As he did the last time that he interacted with Cheet, Archer appears frustrated. We enter this scene with it already in progress, the indication clear that this "discussion" has been going on for several minutes.
CHEET
-is essential to any agreement that Alpha Centauri be recognized as an independent entity and not a colony of Earth!
ARCHER
Mister Cheet-
CHEET
Governor.
ARCHER
(through clenched teeth)
Mister Cheet, you have to recognize Earth's stake in this! Earth has interests in Alpha Centauri and won't just give them up.
(beat)
Compromises will have to be made.
CHEET
Not at the expense of Centauri liberty!
(beat, angry)
Right now, Earth is a foreign power that is keeping us subjugated under their boot!
Skon looks askance at the governor, inclining an eyebrow and speaking before Archer can.
SKON
Hyperbole and exaggeration do not advance your cause, Governor.
(beat, to Archer)
Is not the United Earth charter predicated on the right of self-governance?
ARCHER
(wary)
It is...but Governor Cheet seized power in a military coup. United Earth will not recognize a change of power by those methods nor will it recognize the chief architect of that illegal rebellion as the legitimate head of government.
CHEET
(loud)
We had to take steps! Earth-
Skon raises a hand to forestall the governor's diatribe and Cheet clamps his mouth shut, still glaring at Archer.
SKON
A logical precaution, Captain. Armed insurrections rarely end well-
(with a telling glance to Cheet)
Regardless of the intentions behind them.
Again, Cheet glowers at Archer, as if it was the captain's fault that he had just been taken to task by the Vulcan ambassador.
SKON
What compromises do you propose, Captain?
Archer hesitates for a BEAT, glancing down at a clipboard that he brings into view.
ARCHER
The Senate begins the process to recognize Alpha Centauri as an official commonwealth of United Earth. The current government is dissolved and replaced with a provisional government made up of citizens that are agreed upon by both Centauri and Earth.
(beat, off of Cheet's frown)
No military tribunals, but the current illegal government has to be dissolved.
A BEAT passes before Cheet speaks. It's obvious that he's at least considering Archer's proposal.
CHEET
Independence is not debatable.
(off of Archer's frown)
Too many people have died already for us to give that up. Everything else we've discussed...
(beat, with a sour look)
Everything else is up for discussion.
Captain Archer is silent for a LONG BEAT. Finally
ARCHER
I can't officially speak for Earth, Governor-
It is the first time that Archer uses the title without malice or rancor.
ARCHER (CONT’D)
-but if there is a chance that we can resolve this without any needless deaths, then I'm willing to listen to your ideas.
The two humans study one another for a BEAT.
SKON
Then let us discuss this further. Our time is limited.
And with that, we
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - CORRIDOR
A PADD in hand, Hoshi Sato approaches the familiar door leading to Archer's office. As she reaches up to press the “Announce” button, the door slides open, revealing the captain who is exiting. He stops abruptly, startled at her presence.
ARCHER
Ensign.
She offers him the PADD.
SATO
Status report, sir.
(beat, as he takes it from her)
Commander Tucker reports that all damage control teams will be back aboard in five minutes and we'll be ready to break mooring.
ARCHER
(muttering)
Just in time.
(beat, louder)
Did either Lexington or Earth respond to that proposal I sent?
Hoshi shakes her head.
SATO
No, sir.
(beat, off his frown)
Captain...
(off his look)
What happens next?
Archer is grim.
ARCHER
That depends on-
REED (COMM VOICE)
(interrupting)
Bridge to Captain Archer!
The captain turns to the nearest comm. panel and presses the “Talk” button.
ARCHER
Archer here.
REED (COMM VOICE)
Sir, the Lexington strike group is maneuvering.
ARCHER
(soft, frustrated)
Dammit.
(louder)
Sound Battle Stations and prepare to cast off moorings.
And, with the shrill blare of the alarm, we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Continue to Act Four
