ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. STAR SYSTEM
We open with an establishing shot of the alien star system’s sun. We pan to bring into view a distant shot of the gas giant from previous scenes. The Enterprise and Kumari are visible only as small specks; we’re able to only make out the faint outline of each ship as they orbit the planet.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
We’re in the center of the bridge, slowly panning to view all stations. We start with Reed at tactical, and move clockwise. Finished, our view rests on Archer; he is standing just a few feet to the side of the communications station. Shran is still seated at the station, tapping slowly away at the controls.
A BEAT passes before Shran stops and looks at Archer.
SHRAN
[I’ve sent the transmission…]
ARCHER
Good. How long until the nearest ship arrives?
T’Pol is the first to answer, using her Vulcan mental abilities to quickly make the calculations.
T’POL
At maximum warp, the nearest Andorian vessel would arrive at our location in sixty-six hours and forty-eight minutes. That is assuming that they are indeed five light-years away.
ARCHER
(frowning)
They could be closer.
T’POL
They would need to be within a maximum of zero-point-one-seven light-years from our position. Even at that distance they would arrive in two hours and eighteen minutes.
(beat)
The approaching vessels will arrive in two hours and ten minutes.
SHRAN
[We can hold them off for that long!]
T’Pol raises her eyebrow.
T’POL
That is…unlikely.
Archer turns away from the Communications station and takes his seat.
ARCHER
Think positive, Sub-Commander.
(beat)
There’s still a chance this won’t come to blows.
Their attention is shifted as the communication console beeps. Shran stares at the station momentarily, not sure what to do. Quickly, T’Pol stands and approaches the station; reaching over Shran she presses a control.
T’POL
The channel is open, Captain.
Archer is about to ask a question when the viewscreen suddenly changes to show the incoming communication. On the screen is the image of a slightly overweight Andorian male, this is COMMANDER ASHAN. A smug look is on his face while he addresses the bridge crew.
ASHAN (COMPUTER VOICE)
Greetings…this is Commander Ashan of the Free Republic of Andoria.
(beat)
Shall I accept your surrender now, or do you prefer to wait until our arrival?
SHRAN
[Ashan, you bastard! I knew you were behind this madness!]
ASHAN (COMPUTER VOICE)
(addressing Shran)
Then you were mistaken, Thy’lek. I’m merely the person who has been assigned to take you as prisoner…or destroy you.
Archer stands from his chair and steps closer to the screen.
ARCHER
Excuse me, but this doesn't have to be resolved with threats.
ASHAN (COMPUTER VOICE)
And who are you?
ARCHER
(straightening up)
Captain Jonathan Archer of the United Earth Ship Enterprise.
Ashan eyes Archer, almost teasingly.
ASHAN (COMPUTER VOICE)
Captain Jonathan Archer of the United Earth Ship Enterprise, you’re right…this won’t be resolved by threats.
(beat, frowning)
In fact, it will be resolved one of two ways…either by your surrender or by your destruction. You have two hours to decide.
The communication abruptly ends, leaving Archer to consider the choices and Shran to fume silently to himself.
CUT TO:
INT. KUMARI - REACTOR ROOM
Once again, we find ourselves in the reactor room of the Kumari. This time, however, there are newcomers. Four Andorian engineers have joined the Enterprise team in repairing the auxiliary power systems of the Kumari. A few of the engineers are bandaged, some with still bleeding wounds that soak the white gauze with a dark blue stain.
Tucker is on his back on the floor, the upper half of his torso is hidden inside an access hatch near the large spherical reaction chamber. Rostov is kneeling at his side, handing him tools as he calls out for them.
TUCKER
Half of these damned circuits are fried; I don’t even know what the hell this is supposed to be.
He tosses a charred piece of metal out of the hatch, nearly hitting Rostov in the leg.
TUCKER (CONT’D)
Damn it to hell, the coolant line is busted. We’ve got a major leak in here.
(beat)
Hand me the sealant.
Rostov rolls a cylindrical tube into the hatch as one of the Andorian ENGINEERs walks up to them. Rostov quickly retrieves his translation matrix while discreetly tapping Tucker’s leg to let him know someone was there.
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
[I have repaired the damaged control rod.]
(beat)
[How is your progress on the primary junction?]
ROSTOV
We’ve found a coolant leak; it needs to be repaired before we can get to the junction.
Trip’s hands appear at the edge of the hatch and grab a hold of the wall; he pulls himself out of the hole and glares at the Andorian. We can immediately see that the commander is smeared with grease and his uniform splattered with unknown liquids.
TUCKER
It’s useless. I’ve patched the leak but we’ll be lucky if it holds when we start the thing up.
(beat, frustrated, rambling)
As for those control circuits…I hope you have a cargo bay full of spares that you haven’t told us about. I can’t get the thing to work any time soon, so we'll need at least another five hours.
The Andorian stares at Trip, slowly comprehending what the human engineer is saying.
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
[You’ll have to make do with what is in front of you.]
TUCKER
(sarcastic)
Thanks. That’s a lot of help.
(beat, thinking)
Speaking of help, I was told ten of your people were released from our ship…where’s the rest of you?
A BEAT passes, the tips of the Andorian’s mouth slightly turn downwards.
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
[The others have been assigned to repair our shield generators and weapon systems.]
TUCKER
You’ve got to be kidding me! What is wrong with you people!?
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
(defensive)
[They are top priority systems, Commander.]
Trip looks to be on the verge of a mental breakdown because of what he is witnessing.
TUCKER
Those shields won’t do you a damn bit of good if you don’t have the power for it!
(beat, calmer)
This ship is still sucking down power from Enterprise just to keep life support going and the lights on. We need those people in here working on this!
The Andorian simply stares at Tucker.
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
[I have my orders to follow, just as you do. The only option I have is to make the best of it.]
Trip sighs and slumps slightly as he sits there at the feet of this blue alien.
TUCKER
Following orders won't do ya any good if you wind up dead.
ANDORIAN ENGINEER ONE
[Then I will have died doing my duty…it is all we can hope for in some cases.]
Trip gives up and rolls his eyes as he falls back to continue his work. As he wiggles back into the hatch he mumbles to himself.
TUCKER
(quiet)
Fine…just don’t get me killed with you.
INT. ENTERPRISE - SICKBAY
Phlox is sitting at the central counter in sickbay, looking over a medical readout of what we can assume to be one of the Andorian patients. The doors to sickbay open and Talas walks in, followed closely by Corporal Scott who stays back near the door. She moves beyond the corporal and looks to her left before turning her head to see Phlox. She approaches the Denobulan as he stands from his stool and grins broadly. Both of them are already producing their translation matrixes.
PHLOX
Is there something I can help you with?
TALAS
[I’m looking for Sergeant Eris.]
PHLOX
Ah, yes. He’s in the back.
Phlox points behind the wall of the counter in the direction of the back of sickbay. Talas leans to look past him, she catches a glimpse of Eris standing over a biobed.
TALAS
[Thank you.]
She walks off as Phlox smiles in acknowledgment. Approaching Eris, Talas addresses him.
TALAS (CONT’D)
[Comrade, how are things coming?]
Eris turns around slightly startled, a scanner in his hand.
ERIS
(surprised)
[Comrade Major.]
(beat)
[I…wasn’t expecting you.]
TALAS
[It’s the best way to keep you alert, comrade.]
(beat, glancing at the biobed)
[How are they?]
Eris sets his scanner aside and relaxes his rigid stance just a bit.
ERIS
[They are doing…better]
(beat)
[However, I don’t recommend that they leave Enterprise anytime soon. All of them are in a delicate condition.]
Talas looks closer at the fellow officer laying on the biobed directly in front of her. She can see his chest rhythmically rise and fall as he struggles to breathe. Though we know nothing about Andorian bio-signs, the readings displayed above his bed do not look promising.
TALAS
[How do you think they will be in two hours?]
Eris’ antennae straighten and his eyebrows momentarily jump up in disbelief.
ERIS
[They’ll need to be here for a while longer, Major.]
(beat, thinking)
[However, with the help Dr. Phlox has provided…it may be as soon as eight hours.]
TALAS
[Try your best to make it sooner.]
(beat, hushed)
[How are they…treating you?]
Eris is quiet for a BEAT as he looks to see who is nearby.
ERIS
[They have treated the crew and myself quite well, better than I expected from…outsiders.]
(beat)
[Doctor Phlox is quite knowledgeable in Andorian physiology; he’s been an adequate replacement for our doctor. Without his help, I doubt any of our crew you see here would have survived.]
He indicates the still occupied biobeds. Her focus falls on one badly injured officer in particular. It is not entirely clear, but a hint of what appears to be disgust (or maybe even hate) briefly flashes across her face.
TALAS
(quiet)
[I see…]
(stern)
[Thank you for the report, Sergeant.]
Eris bows his head as Talas turns away. She walks past the counter where Phlox is still diligently working; as she passes by she stops and slowly turns back to face the doctor.
TALAS (CONT’D)
[Doctor] Phlox.
The Denobulan looks up from his work, directing his ebullient expression toward the major.
PHLOX
Yes?
Talas pauses a moment, she looks uncomfortable and unsure of herself. A BEAT passes until she finally decides to speak what she had been struggling with. Her words are forced as she speaks them, as if she is not entirely sure they should be spoken.
TALAS
[Doctor…thank you.]
(beat)
[Your services are…appreciated.]
Phlox’s grin grows with a slight pride.
PHLOX
I only did what any doctor would have done.
For a brief moment doubt flashes across Talas’ face, as if she finds it hard to agree with Phlox’s statement.
TALAS
(looking down)
[Not all would have…]
(beat, gathered)
[Nevertheless, thank you.]
PHLOX
You’re welcome, Major.
She inclines her head before swiftly turning and leaving sickbay, leaving Phlox to wonder and stare on at the Andorian woman before she disappears behind the doors of sickbay.
INT. ENTERPRISE - BRIDGE
Our focus is on T’Pol as she gazes into the pop-up sensor display. She pulls away from the display and turns to address Archer. We too PULL BACK to bring the Captain’s chair and helm station into view.
T’POL
The Andorian vessels are now within visual range.
ARCHER
On screen.
We PAN to bring into view the screen as its image quickly changes to a view of the approaching Andorian vessels. There are indeed three of them, two smaller ships that flank each side of a much larger third. They are not of the same design as the Kumari, however they are easily recognizable as Andorian due to the prominent wing structures that protrude from both sides.
T’POL
The smaller vessels appear to have minor hull fractures, as well as fluctuations in their power emissions.
We PAN to bring Shran into our view, he is still sitting at the communication station.
SHRAN
[The smaller ones are Grelan-class frigates. Both of them were involved in the ambush.]
(beat, proud)
[We destroyed their partner and managed to damage them before they ran like cowards.]
ARCHER
Let's hope that damage helps to even out the odds.
(beat, addressing Reed)
Major, are you picking up any potential weak points we could exploit if it comes down to it?
Reed checks his readouts for anything that could be of use, after a BEAT he looks up at Archer in disappointment.
REED
No, sir. Those hull fractures seem to be our best bet. I don’t think they’ll be of much help though…not with those energy shields operational.
Archer pounds his fist on the arm of his chair in frustration.
ARCHER
I guess it will have to do.
(beat)
Major, I want you to-
REED
Already on it, sir. I’ve targeted the fractures and I’m slowly bringing weapons online.
(beat, smiling)
Don’t want to tip them off too soon, sir.
Archer nods before going to press a control on the arm of his chair.
ARCHER
Archer to Commander Tucker.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
Trip here.
ARCHER
Where’s my power, Commander?
BEAT.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
I’m working on it, sir. At least another twenty minutes.
ARCHER
Commander, you have-
He looks at T’Pol. After a BEAT the Vulcan catches on and answers his silent question.
T’POL
(flat)
Fifteen minutes and ten seconds.
ARCHER
-Fifteen minutes. After that we’ll have company.
There’s a pause over the comm. line.
TUCKER (COMM VOICE)
(tired, frustrated)
Ten minutes it is, sir. They’ll have power by then.
ARCHER
Thank you, Commander. Enterprise out.
The channel closes and Archer leans back into his chair. As he examines the viewscreen we slowly PUSH IN closer to him as we…
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FOUR
Continue to Act Five
