ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE ALPHA CENTAURI A
Crawling with activity, the EX-01 is still encased within the drydock. Dozens of EV-Suited figures can be seen scurrying atop the Enterprise's hull. For a moment, we pause before pushing in toward a viewport.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - ARCHER'S OFFICE
Seated before his desk computer, Captain Archer looks harried and tense. His previously clean desk is now littered with clipboards and PADDs, and his attention is focused entirely upon the monitor before him. As we PAN around him, we can see he is speaking with a UEM officer.
UEM LIEUTENANT
I'm sorry, Captain. General Bernard is currently unavailable. I will pass on your message as soon as possible. Lexington out.
The screen display goes blank as the connection ends and Archer looks like he wants to hit something. The chime of his door announcer sounds and he glances up.
ARCHER
Enter.
The door slides open and Sub-Commander T'Pol enters, bearing another stack of clipboards. At sight of her, Archer's expression sours slightly but he does his best to hide it. He's only marginally successful.
T'POL
The status reports you wanted, Captain.
He gestures to a mostly clean spot on the desk and she places the stack there.
T'POL
Commander Tucker reports that his teams are operating behind schedule due to ongoing difficulty with station facilities.
ARCHER
(sourly)
How much behind schedule?
T'POL
Three hours was his estimate.
ARCHER
Dammit.
(beat, glancing toward the viewport)
In three hours, we could be at war.
(beat)
Tell Trip I want to talk to him as soon as possible.
The Vulcan raises an eyebrow but nods in acknowledgement of the order.
ARCHER
Was there anything else, Sub-Commander?
T'POL
Yes, Captain.
(beat, off his poorly concealed irritation)
I have been monitoring the communications taking place between the Vulcan fleet...
Archer's eyes widen at that; it's obvious that he's surprised that she would reveal something like this.
T'POL (CONT'D)
And Colonel Vanik has received instructions from the Vulcan High Command to assume the highest level of fleet readiness.
The captain sighs and, for a moment, appears to be absolutely defeated.
ARCHER
I can't believe this ... we're going to go to war over this stupid chunk of rock.
For a BEAT, there is only silence.
T'POL
Captain...
(beat, off his glance up)
I again recommend that you contact Ambassador Skon.
(off his frown)
The Vulcan Alliance does not wish war, Captain, and the ambassador is eager to prevent such an event. He would be an excellent ally to acquire.
Archer looks away and stares at the picture viewer containing the images of his parents. As if on cue, the viewer selection shifts to Henry Archer receiving the Nobel Prize again.
ARCHER
Well, nothing else has worked so far.
(beat)
Set it up, Sub-Commander.
She acknowledges this with the slightest of nods before turning to depart.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALPHA CENTAURI CAPITOL BUILDING
Once more, the streets outside this impressive structure are vacant and empty. The complete lack of activity lends the image of desolation, We push in toward the building and
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CAPITOL BUILDING - GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
Standing quietly before an immense window, TITUS CHEET stares at the seemingly abandoned city with an expression of despair on his face. He appears to be on the brink of an emotional collapse.
Seated in a chair in front of the massive desk, Ambassador Skon appears outwardly stoic as he studies his human companion.
CHEET
I never thought it would come to this...
Turning slowly, he looks at the Vulcan ambassador and sighs.
CHEET
It was supposed to be easy ... a peaceful demonstration without real violence.
(beat)
And now more human blood will be on my hands...
SKON
Surak said: Change is inevitable. Lead by example.
(beat, off of Cheet's frown)
This ... confrontation has been building for some time, Governor. It is the inevitable conflict between parent and child or mentor and student.
Cheet drops into his chair behind the desk heavily.
CHEET
(sullen)
Do you have a saying by Surak for every situation?
SKON
Yes.
There is a BEAT of silence before Cheet cracks a smile. Before he can respond, the chirp of a comm. panel interrupts them.
AIDE (COMM VOICE)
I have Captain Archer from Enterprise calling for Ambassador Skon. He insists that it's urgent.
Cheet nods to Skon who stands and faces the wall monitor.
SKON
Connect me, please.
The monitor snaps to life, quickly resolving into an image of Archer.
ARCHER
Ambassador. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time.
The Vulcan raises an eyebrow.
SKON
Of course not, Captain. How may I be of assistance?
Archer inhales, visibly uncomfortable.
ARCHER
It's in regards to our current problem, Ambassador. In...
(off a sideways glance)
Eight hours and fourteen minutes, we're going to be at war and I'm trying to prevent that.
SKON
(surprised)
By contacting me?
(beat)
I must admit to some ... surprise. Your vocal dislike of my species is well known, Captain.
(beat)
I would have thought that you of all people would have welcomed a war with Vulcan.
ARCHER
(tight)
Then you thought wrong, Ambassador.
(beat)
I'll do whatever I have to do to prevent a war.
To one side and out of Archer's visual range, Cheet looks at the Enterprise captain with a surprised and even hopeful expression on his face.
ARCHER
Sub-Commander T'Pol believes that you might be able to help me stop this war before it starts and right now, I need all the help I can get.
SKON
The Vulcan fleet in orbit is not under my command, Captain. I cannot order them to stand down if that is what you wanted to ask of me.
(beat)
Nor would I do so if they were under my authority. Mediation under threat of violence is no mediation at all.
ARCHER
(desperate)
But there must be something you can do!
SKON
I am not authorized to do more than arbitrate.
(beat, off of Archer's disconsolate expression)
Or advise.
Archer glances away, then back to the screen.
ARCHER
If I can somehow convince General Bernard to extend her deadline, could you speak to your government?
SKON
Yes.
(beat)
The ideal solution, Captain, would be to remand this entire situation to diplomats.
ARCHER
I know.
(beat)
I'll be in touch with you as soon as I speak with Bernard again.
SKON
And I shall be standing by.
The screen goes blank as the connection is terminated.
CHEET
Do you think he has any chance?
The governor of Alpha Centauri sounds and looks hopeful.
SKON
Perhaps.
(beat)
We have a saying on my world: one man can summon the future. Perhaps Captain Archer is that man.
And, off of Cheet's expression, we
FADE TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE - AIRLOCK ACCESS
Dressed in an EV-Suit, Commander Tucker exits the airlock and enters the ship itself. He busies himself with removing the helmet as he walks down the hall corridor toward a familiar-looking door. Instead of pressing the announce button, however, he bangs on the door itself several times.
ARCHER’S VOICE
Enter.
The door slides open and we follow Trip into
INT. ENTERPRISE - ARCHER'S OFFICE
The captain looks up at Tucker's entrance but the engineer speaks first.
TUCKER
You wanted to see me, sir?
Archer takes in the engineer's annoyed expression with a glance.
ARCHER
Yes.
(beat, as he gestures with a PADD)
Three hours, Trip?
Frustration is clear on Trip's face.
TUCKER
Sir, I've got my people running ragged. If I push them any harder, there's gonna be mistakes. And mistakes will lead to injuries.
Archer looks down for a BEAT before glancing up.
ARCHER
(softly)
I need you to push them, Trip.
(beat)
The warhawks back home just pushed the deadline up to twelve hundred hours Earth Standard.
Trip is aghast.
TUCKER
That's not even two hours away!
ARCHER
I know.
(beat)
So push them, Trip. As hard as you can.
(beat, off of the engineer's grim nod)
How long?
Trip pauses for a BEAT as he considers.
TUCKER
Two hours.
(off of Archer's dark frown)
Less if you give me T'Pol.
ARCHER
(surprised)
T'Pol?
TUCKER
Yeah. She may piss me off but she knows what she's doing.
(beat, annoyed)
Which is more than I can say about most of these new recruits.
ARCHER
You have her.
Trip turns to leave but hesitates.
TUCKER
Any progress?
The captain's face is bleak.
ARCHER
No. We're going to go to war because nobody is listening!
(beat, soft)
I don't know what to do, Trip.
TUCKER
Make 'em listen, sir.
ARCHER
(frustrated)
And how do I do that exactly?
TUCKER
You'll think of something, sir.
Archer smiles.
ARCHER
Wish I had your confidence, Trip.
As he exits the office, Trip speaks over his shoulder.
TUCKER
It's not confidence, Cap'n. It's faith.
We focus on Archer's smile as we
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LEXINGTON - GENERAL BERNARD'S OFFICE
Harried and tired-looking, General Bernard faces the wall monitor, a frown on her face. Displayed upon the monitor is the grizzled GENERAL SUTHERLAND, a bleak expression on his own face. Every few seconds, the screen flickers or freezes up as the lines of communication between Earth and the venerable warship are not perfect.
SUTHERLAND
I'm sorry, April. The president's made his decision.
(beat, sourly)
And he's no longer listening to me.
BERNARD
But, sir, there has to be something you can do!
Sutherland shakes his head in weary resignation.
SUTHERLAND
Believe me, I've tried. This has turned into a nightmare for the president and he's afraid that if he backs down, his opponents will use that against him in the coming elections.
(beat, disgusted)
The politicians are in charge now.
Both grimace at the thought of a war waged by politicians instead of soldiers.
SUTHERLAND
I'll keep you updated of any changes but until then, your previous orders stand.
(beat, sympathetic)
Good luck.
The image of Sutherland vanishes and Bernard turns back to her desk. Prominently displayed upon the computer monitor is what appears to be a tactical assessment of the Vulcan cruisers in orbit around Alpha Centauri. Bernard studies the readouts for a BEAT, clearly attempting to determine weak points in their defenses. The chirp of her comm. panel echoes loudly in the otherwise empty room.
BERNARD
This is Bernard.
BRIDGE OFFICER (COMM VOICE)
Ma'am, I have Captain Archer of Enterprise calling again.
Bernard sighs.
BERNARD
Patch him through.
She turns in her seat to face the wall monitor again as Captain Archer's face appears on the display; there is no interference in the transmission this time.
BERNARD
(sarcastic)
Captain Archer. What a surprise.
Archer frowns briefly at her sarcasm.
ARCHER
General.
(beat, diplomatic)
I'm calling in hopes that you have good news from Earth.
Bernard narrows her eyes at the implication that Archer is aware of her communication with Sutherland.
BERNARD
No.
(beat, off his look)
Until informed otherwise, my previous orders stand.
Archer exhales heavily, as if the weight of the world is suddenly dropped on his shoulders.
ARCHER
General...
BERNARD
Don't start, Archer. I don't like these orders any more than you do but they are lawful and they have been authenticated.
(beat)
In just under forty minutes, my strike group will move on Alpha Centauri. Any ships that provide resistance will be considered hostile and treated accordingly.
Now, it is Bernard who sighs heavily.
BERNARD
(soft, sad)
In just under forty minutes, we go to war.
And off of Archer's expression, we
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
Continue to Act Three
