ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
We return to just after we left off from. Picard, Archer, and Garla are as we last saw them. The klaxon has stopped sounding, but the lights have dimmed and the dominant color is red.
PICARD
(urgently)
Captain! We need to get clear of the other ship so or we’re fish in a barrel!
ARCHER
Have all our people made it back aboard yet?
Garla checks her console.
GARLA
No, sir.
PICARD
Captain, if we don’t do it now, they won’t have a ship to come back to!
(beat, checks another alarm on his console)
They’re locking on to us!
ARCHER
Damn!
(to Sato)
Contact our boarding party and tell them to stay where they are!
(to Mayweather)
Seal the airlock and cut us loose, then take us out a few klicks.
(to Picard)
Lock lasers and missiles on the hostile but hold fire until my command.
EXT. SPACE
Extreme close up: The gangway between Enterprise and the alien ship unclamps and retracts.
We pan to a position on the port nacelle as the ship’s thrusters fire with ferocity to quickly put distance between it and the alien ship. Space twists sickeningly around us as the ship reorients itself, taking up a position high above the other ship. The upper missile racks open and train on their new target.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
Picard looks through his holo-targeter and places his finger over the “fire” button.
PICARD
Target acquired Captain, ready to fire on your command.
Harrad-Sar, still on the viewscreen, looks mildly surprised at Enterprise’s quick response.
ARCHER
(to Sato)
Advise our new visitors that we don’t respond well to threats.
The young woman nods nervously and composes herself a little before turning to her console and doing as she’s told.
INT. ORION INTERCEPTOR – BRIDGE
Harrad-Sar angrily slams his fist down on his console, ending the transmission with Enterprise. He glares at the image of the Earth ship, weapons still ready to fire.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The turbolift opens, depositing Reed, Trip, and T’Pol onto the Bridge. Archer looks to see who it is, and is mildly surprised to see the three officers.
ARCHER
(mostly to Tucker)
Glad to see you made it.
TUCKER
Just barely.
The three recently arrived officers eye the Orion Interceptor on the viewscreen.
REED
(wryly)
We’ve met some new friends, I see.
T’Pol discreetly relieves Garla and takes her place at the Science console. Reed puts his hand on Picard’s shoulder, letting him know that it’s safe for them to switch places as well. Reed quickly takes Picard’s place at Tactical. Tucker stands next to Archer, the relieved officers walking behind him and exiting into the still open turbolift.
TUCKER
We were just starting to download their computer core, but now it looks like we don’t have to.
ARCHER
(to Reed)
Tactical analysis; I want to know what we’re up against.
(to T’Pol)
Activate electronic countermeasures.
(to Trip)
What makes you say that?
Reed and T’Pol enter commands into their consoles.
TUCKER
(indicating the viewscreen)
These … Orions have shown up, and they must’ve said or done something pretty serious to make you leave most of the boarding party on the other ship.
ARCHER
(nodding, grimly)
They told us to surrender because we’re now their “property”.
TUCKER
So those people were telling the truth.
ARCHER
(reluctantly)
So it seems. But now we have a new situation to deal with.
(beat)
I don’t think we’re going to walk out of this unscathed.
TUCKER
(half serious)
You better not get my ship all shot up again, Cap'n. We just her back together!
Trip smirks and Archer gives him a sour look, but before he can say anything…
REED
I’m detecting high output directed energy weapons and some kind of missile launching system.
T’POL
(off console)
Curious.
Archer and Trip look at T’Pol in unison.
ARCHER
What is it?
T’POL
This “Orion” ship appears to be a heavily modified Andorian frigate, and includes technology from several species, including Vulcan.
(beat, a hint of sarcasm)
Though sensor jamming technology does not appear to among them.
ARCHER
(suspiciously)
I thought you said you didn’t recognize them.
T’POL
I do not.
(beat)
The Vulcan High Command has no record of these Orions, but we have lost ships without a trace over the centuries. Apparently the Andorians have as well.
Archer seems to be satisfied, and turns back to the viewscreen.
REED
Those “disruptors” they have don’t appear to be Andorian, but they do have more power output than our lasers.
(beat)
Still, with our electronic countermeasures, we do have a slight advantage, Captain.
ARCHER
I just hope they realize that.
INT. ORION INTERCEPTOR – BRIDGE
An Orion crewman works his console.
ORION 1
[We can no longer get a clear reading, Harrad-Sar. They must have some kind of jamming equipment.]
Harrad-Sar snarls at the news.
HARRAD-SAR
[What about your previous scans?]
ORION 1
[They are a threat. There is substantial risk of damage if we attack them.]
Though obviously angry at the situation, Harrad-Sar glares at Enterprise with a purpose, carefully thinking out his next move.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The Communications console beeps, indicating an incoming transmission.
SATO
(pressing her ear receiver)
Captain, we’re receiving a transmission from the Orions, audio only this time.
Hoshi listens for a BEAT, then enters what she’s heard into her translation matrix.
SATO (CONT’D)
They say that we can recover our people from the cargo ship and leave, but we must return the escaped slaves to them.
(beat)
He also says we have to decide quickly, before he decides that the risk of “acquiring” us and our ship is worth the risk.
Archer definitely doesn’t look happy at that.
T’POL
Captain, we should consider his demands.
ARCHER
I would have thought you of all people would recognize the implications here.
T’Pol raises an eyebrow and looks at him questioningly.
ARCHER
Slavery was rightfully banned on United Earth, and unless I’m mistaken it’s a crime on Vulcan as well.
T’POL
It is, but we are not on Vulcan, nor are we on Earth. We are outside space controlled by either United Earth or the Vulcan Alliance. We have no authority over the Orions.
TUCKER
(incensed)
I can’t believe anyone can be so cold about this!
(beat, straightening)
These people are slaves! We should do everything we can to free them, whether we have authority over the Orions or not!
ARCHER
Commander Tucker is right; I see no reason why we should give into their demands.
T’POL
If Enterprise and the crew were not at considerable risk, an exception-
ARCHER
(interrupting, sternly)
This ship and its crew are already at risk.
(beat)
We have people trapped on that transport, which can barely move under its own power; did you forget that?
(beat, rhetorically)
And what makes you think, that these Orions won’t attack us as soon as we dock to recover our boarding team?
T’POL
That is a strong possibility. Logic dictates that you consider sacrificing those crewmembers to prevent further threat to Enterprise.
This elicits a negative reaction from everyone on the bridge.
ARCHER
We don’t leave our people behind.
TUCKER
(angrily)
I have a lot of good people stuck on that ship.
(beat, snidely)
Maybe you’d feel different if you were trapped on that ship with them.
T’POL
(coldly)
No, I would not. In fact, I would insist that you leave me to preserve the rest of the crew.
(beat)
The logical course of action is to place the needs of the many above the needs of the few. A Vulcan crew would accept their losses and retreat before incurring more.
ARCHER
(snidely)
This isn’t a Vulcan crew, Sub-Commander. We don't leave our people behind. Period.
TUCKER
(interjecting)
Cap’n, you could give them asylum. That would put ‘em under United Earth protection…
(beat, looking coldly at T’Pol)
Then they’d be under our “jurisdiction”.
ARCHER
I’m already considering it, but the truth is, it’s not quite that simple, Trip.
(beat, of Tucker’s confusion)
We’re not in much of a position to enforce it beyond the four we have in our brig, and we still can’t risk docking with the other ship to recover any of our own people, let alone all the other slaves.
Trip nods in understanding.
ARCHER
(looking right at his friend)
I need you in engineering in case this turns into a shooting match.
TUCKER
(disappointed)
I understand, Sir.
The engineer’s demeanor makes him look like he feels a bit defeated. Tucker turns to face the turbolift, and gives T’Pol one last icy glare before exiting. Archer can’t help but give her one too, but he stops himself from holding it more than a moment.
REED
(impatiently)
Captain, I think we should attack them while we still have the initiative, take them by what little surprise we can.
ARCHER
I’m not willing to open fire unless they fire first. We're not out here to start a war. Diplomacy is our best option to get out of this mess. Diplomacy is our only way out of this.
(to Sato)
Open a channel; tell them we want to negotiate.
SATO
Aye Sir.
INT. ORION INTERCEPTOR – BRIDGE
There’s a beep from one of the consoles, and another Orion crewman checks it.
ORION 2
[Harrad-Sar, the aliens are contacting us again.]
(beat, listening to transmission)
[They say they want to negotiate.]
Harrad-Sar sneers at that.
HARRAD-SAR
[We’ve wasted enough time trying to negotiate with these creatures.]
(to third crewman)
[Open fire; try to avoid critical systems; I want that ship and all its contents as undamaged as possible.]
The third Orion crewman nods.
EXT. SPACE
The Orion interceptor opens fire, sending pulses of green disruptor fire at Enterprise before quickly maneuvering, trying to gain a better position.
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
The ship shudders under the impact of the Orion weapons.
ARCHER
Helm, evasive action! Draw their fire away from the transport!
MAYWEATHER
Aye, Captain!
The stars on the viewscreen move about sickeningly.
ARCHER
Major, give them everything we’ve got!
EXT. SPACE
Enterprise exchanges fire with the Orion Interceptor, giving it a blast from its lasers and firing a volley of missiles at it, most of which hit their target, despite the attempts of the Orion ship to destroy them with their disruptors. The Orion Interceptor returns fire, and though a few blasts hit Enterprise, most of them miss due to the Earth ship’s maneuvering and jamming technology.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
Continue to Act Five
