ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIDGE
We focus on the viewscreen, the alien planet now front and center on it.
TUCKER (OS)
Now that is a beautiful sight…..
We change angles to see Commander Tucker leaning over the railing just behind and to the right of Captain Archer, sitting in the command chair. ZOOMING OUT slightly, we can see that the other regulars are at their usual stations.
We change angles again and focus on T’Pol as she looks up from her holo-viewer to look at the viewscreen.
T’POL
It is … agreeable.
Archer and Trip share a somewhat stunned look before looking at T’Pol, who returns it with her usual aloofness.
T’POL (CONT’D)
More importantly, it does indeed appear to meet the requirements for classification as Minshara.
(indicating to sensor readouts)
Initial scans indicate a primarily oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, with a surface covered eighty-nine-point-six-seven percent by saline water. The land mass has a diverse ecology, but ship-mounted sensors cannot provide more detail through the planet’s atmosphere, which has a high-humidity factor.
TRIP
(excited)
Sounds like a tropical paradise to me. Bet there’s some pretty nice beaches down there, Cap’n.
ARCHER
(smiling)
Is the planet inhabited, Sub-Commander?
T’POL
Not by any humanoid species that the sensors can detect. There are no signs of any settlement.
ENSIGN SATO looks anxiously to the captain.
SATO
Please tell me that we aren’t going to just survey this planet from orbit, Captain.
(beat)
We’ve been cooped up in this ship for over a month! The crew could really use some time down on the surface, sir.
Tucker smiles and gives Archer a “told ya so” look.
ARCHER
Sounds like a plan, Ensign; you’re in charge of organizing shore leave for the rest of the crew.
SATO
(shocked)
Me!?
ARCHER
Absolutely.
(with a wink)
Besides, it was your idea.
T’POL
(interrupting)
Captain, I advise against sending down any landing parties at this time.
ARCHER
(confused)
Why not?
T’POL
There are certain protocols and procedures followed by Vulcan ships that I believe you should consider.
Archer immediately loses his enthusiasm and his face tightens.
ARCHER
This isn’t a Vulcan ship, Sub-Commander.
T’POL
Nonetheless, there are certain dangers which present themselves: possible contagions, indigenous predatory life-forms, and number of unforeseen risks to the safety of a landing party.
(beat)
We simply don’t know enough about the planet yet, Captain.
Archer thinks about it for a BEAT.
ARCHER
(reluctantly)
I guess I can see your point; what would a Vulcan ship normally do under these circumstances?
T’POL
(confidently)
Several automated probes would be sent to the surface to take more detailed scans. If conditions are suitable to warrant a landing party, a geophysical survey would be conducted from orbit, and a list of logical landing sites would be compiled. Once selected, possible landing sites would be observed for a period of time deemed necessary by the ship’s commanding officer to ensure that there is no danger from unpredictable weather patterns, or other possible dangers to the crew.
ARCHER
And how long does that usually take?
T’POL
Typically, no less than seven days.
There are looks of disappointment all around, including from Archer himself.
ARCHER
That won’t do.
(beat)
I understand the need for some caution, but what you’re suggesting seems like overkill.
T’POL
(protesting)
Captain…
ARCHER
(interrupting)
See if you can find a suitable location on one of the larger land masses and ready a probe. We’ll observe the location for forty-eight hours before sending down any landing parties.
(beat)
Trip, tell shuttle maintenance to have all four pods ready for extended use by then.
The engineer stands up and gives the captain a smile.
TUCKER
Aye Cap’n.
And with that he turns, gives T’Pol one last look, and enters the turbolift.
T’Pol turns back to her console and begins to conduct various scans. Several of the monitors display maps of the various land masses on the planet.
EXT. SPACE – ABOVE PLANET
We focus on the lower cargo bay hatch of Enterprise as it opens. A crane arms extends out through it, a probe on the end of it. Coming to a stop, it releases the probe and begins to retract back into the ship.
Released, the probe’s engine lights up and it moves toward the planet. We start to follow the probe before we
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANET ATMOSPHERE
We follow the probe as it enters the planet’s atmosphere, its heat shields glowing red hot as the probe itself leaves a pinkish trail of plasma behind it, which slowly begins to dissipate as we PAN around the probe. We stop panning when we have both the probe and the ground in view, which is approaching at alarming speed. Suddenly, several panels around the “top” of the probe pop open and parachutes deploy.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE – LANDING SITE
We watch from the surface as the probe falls, zooming in on it as it approaches the ground. When the probe gets close to the ground itself, several thrusters fire, slowing its decent even further, so it hits the ground relatively softly. Several panels open, deploying the probe’s sensors and transmitters.
FADE TRANSITION TO:
INT. ENTERPRISE – BRIEFING ROOM
More are present this time, including everyone from the first briefing, as well as MAJOR REED, Ensign Sato, ENSIGN CUTLER, and DOCTOR JEREMY LUCAS.
Archer stands nest to the wall monitor, which displays a map of the landing site with several pictures of plant and animal life overlaid over the top of it. T’Pol stands on the opposite side of the monitor from him; all the others are seated and listening intently. We’re given the impression that this briefing has been going on for some time now.
ARCHER
The scans from the probe don’t reveal anything more than a wide variety of plant and animal life, and none of it appears to be threatening to humans.
PHLOX
Any sign of possible viral or bacterial vectors?
T’POL
Nothing detected so far, although I do not feel that there is enough data collected yet to rule out that possibility.
Archer gives her the briefest of sour looks.
ARCHER
Just keep an eye out that for us if you would, Doctor?
Phlox smiles, his normal charming self.
PHLOX
Oh, don’t you worry, Captain. I will, and I’m as anxious as you are to get down to the surface to see what medical benefits might be gleaned from the wondrous variety of life down there.
TUCKER
Does this mean we should expect some additions to that little menagerie of yours in Sickbay?
PHLOX
You just never know…
Lucas gives Phlox a withering look, which the Denobulan either misses or ignores.
T’POL
After following proper medical quarantine procedures first, of course.
PHLOX
(good-natured)
Yes, yes, of course, Sub-Commander. After all, I would be remiss in my duties if I allowed any possible threat aboard. Safety comes first, mmm?
Phlox gives T’Pol one of his exaggerated smiles for emphasis, which she returns with a nod.
Archer looks from the exchange between his two resident aliens to Ensign Sato, who is fidgeting nervously with a PADD.
ARCHER
(facetiously)
So how’s that shore leave list coming, Hoshi?
SATO
(exhausted)
Almost the entire crew wants to go down to the surface….
LUCAS
Well, you can count me out; I have some work I’d like to get done, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to do it.
ARCHER
I’m sure you’ll be able to get it all figured out, Ensign.
REED
Begging your pardon, Captain….
(beat, as Archer gives him his attention)
But I’d feel more comfortable if the members of the landing party carried sidearms, even if they’re the non-lethals I’ve seen you people carry around before.
ARCHER
I don’t think that will be necessary, Major. T’Pol has indicated that there aren’t any people down there, or any large predators. I’m sure your Security people will be enough, and they might even enjoy themselves while they’re at it.
T’Pol’s eyebrow quirks slightly at the mention of her name. Reed says nothing, simply nodding, but we can tell he isn’t happy about what Archer said.
ARCHER
(to Tucker)
So are those shuttlepods ready?
TUCKER
As ready as they’ll ever be, Cap’n.
ARCHER
Good. I’d like to set down no later than 1300 today.
(beat)
Sub-Commander, I’d like you to assemble a survey team to take down with us.
T’POL
As you wish, Captain.
FADE TRANSITION TO:
EXT. PLANET SURFACE – LANDING SITE
Shuttlepod 01 flies low over the landing site – a wide clearing – circling once before gently setting down. We focus on the starboard door as it opens, revealing Major Reed, dressed in full combat attire, and seeming to point his plasma rifle right at us as he quickly steps out of the shuttlepod. Moving a short distance away, he drops down on one knee, and keeping eyes forward he motions for the others to follow.
Changing angles to a vantage above the shuttle, we can see five more SFs exit the shuttlepod from both sides and take up perimeter around the shuttlepod, including SERGEANT MAJOR HAYES, all of them decked out in combat gear. They visually scan the area for a BEAT.
Changing angles again, we focus on the open starboard hatch as Sub-Commander T’Pol steps out, wielding her Vulcan scanner. She moves around, scanning the area from within the perimeter Reed’s people have established. As she does so, we note the compact air cylinder in a back-pack like carrying case, with a plastic air hose and face mask attached and clipped to one of the shoulder straps, as well as the Vulcan pistol she carries in a holster attached to her belt.
HAYES (COMM. VOICE)
Immediate area is clear, Major.
We focus on Reed as his eyes narrow, visually scanning the area even more. T’Pol walks up from behind him and takes a place next to him.
REED
Let’s move out a little bit further, and keep your eyes open.
T’POL
(critically)
Is this really necessary, Major? The ship’s sensors, the probe’s sensors, and my scanner all indicate that this planet is uninhabited.
Reed stands up and begins to move away from the shuttle, still visually scanning their surroundings.
REED
Do you always trust your sensors, Sub-Commander?
T’Pol inclines her head to the side slightly and perks an eyebrow at his valid point. Reed almost seems to sense this, even without looking at her.
REED (CONT’D)
This is unfamiliar territory, and I’d rather take unnecessary precautions than risk casualties.
(beat, at T’Pol starting to follow him)
I think it’d be best if you remain with the shuttlepod, ma’am. You can call for the others to begin their decent; we should be done with our security sweep by the time they land.
T’Pol turns and goes back to the open shuttlepod hatch.
INT. SHUTTLEPOD 01
We see T’Pol holster her scanner and crawl back inside the shuttlepod. Panning, we can see Ensign Mayweather at the controls, looking over his shoulder as T’Pol takes a seat just behind him at one of the panels. She enters a few commands and activates the comm. panel.
T’POL
T’Pol to Enterprise.
BEAT
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
Go ahead, Sub-Commander.
T’POL
Major Reed believes that it would be appropriate to begin sending the rest of the shuttles down now.
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
I’m sure the Captain will be happy to hear that.
(beat)
Enterprise out.
INT. ENTERPRISE – HANGER DECK
The hanger deck is full of activity, with enlisted personnel giving the shuttlepods one last check over even as departing crew members load their gear and themselves into the three remaining shuttlepods. Archer, hefting a small back-pack, and Tucker, shouldering a knapsack, stand close to one of the walls, in the midst of a conversation.
ARCHER
We’ll have to run the shuttlepods back and forth in shifts to make sure everyone gets their share of shore leave.
TUCKER
(joking)
The maintenance crews probably aren’t going to enjoy this as much as the rest of us.
ARCHER
(smiling)
I suppose I could always give them some extra time on the surface to help make up for it.
TUCKER
Some might take you up on it, but Chief al-Tagrib runs a pretty tight crew.
Archer is about to reply again when the comm. sounds.
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
Bridge to Captain Archer.
Archer walks the short distance to the comm. panel and activates it.
ARCHER
Archer here, go ahead.
SATO (COMM. VOICE)
Major Reed says that you can start sending the rest of the shuttlepods down now, sir.
Archer’s mood noticeably brightens.
ARCHER
Good.
(beat)
I hope you set plenty of time on the surface aside for yourself, Hoshi.
SATO
I’m going down with the next shift, Captain.
ARCHER
I’ll see you down there; Archer out.
And with that, Archer motions at Tucker toward the closest of the shuttlepods and the two of them start walking toward it.
EXT. SPACE – ABOVE PLANET
We focus on the aft end of Enterprise as it orbits the ocean world below. The exterior launch bay door opens, and Shuttlepod 02 flies out, only flying out a few hundred meters before banking gracefully and heading toward the planet below as we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Continue to Act Two
