Star Saga: A Clash Of Empires (6) This is the Confinement House. There are other Confinement Houses throughout the Bulgata home world, but this is the one that you two, Simon and Simone, will be liberating. We expect resistance, and you two will be accompanied by nimble, not ungainly forces. Simon, you’ll be fed the mapping of the Confinement House through your helmet visor. Once you have freed the prisoners, you are to escort them to the dropships where they can be shuttled to safety. SIMONE And after that? COMMANDER STANFIELD You yourselves will be shuttled to infantry duty. SIMON When will the other Confinement Houses be liberated? Commander Wecker After we put down all resistance on the planet, we will send teams of cadets across the surface of the globe to liberate those who are enslaved. Silence encompasses the conference room. CZAR SHEPARD Nothing else? Then we can move on to the other operation. Commander Wecker loads another three dimensional image, this time of the Bulgata Palace. It too is presented sweepingly and cinematically. COMMANDER WECKER This is the Bulgata Palace. Omega Elite’s task will be to infiltrate and assassinate the commanding couple, by any means necessary. We expect there to be several layers of resistance, congregated forces of Myrmidions, but you, Langdon, Iris, Jesse, will be escorted and accompanied by a quick and decisive presence of cadets. Langdon, you’ll be fed the mapping of the palace, through your helmet visor. LANGDON So we are to storm the palace, basically, assassinate Fedos and Fedora, and rejoin the assault? COMMANDER STANFIELD That is the gist of what we hoped to accomplish. With leadership in disarray the Bulgata will be hardly capable of keeping up with any kind of sustained offensive. There will still be their colonies to deal with, but that is what we hope to achieve. JESSE What about concerns of casualties? How populated is the palace with retainers? Jesse turns towards Iris, and this time their gaze holds for a bit, until she breaks it. COMMANDER WECKER There is of course considerable risk in any operation of this kind, but as with all things it comes with the territory. You are to of course respond to civilians with the utmost care. IRIS Are there any kinds of...mounted instruments in the palace? Death traps? Meaning, instruments designed to eliminate intruders? COMMANDER STANFIELD We discovered nothing of the sort. You’ll only have to contend with armed Myrmidions. Silence again envelops the area. CZAR SHEPARD If there is nothing else then we can leave for the Bulgata home world immediately. Cadets you are dismissed. The cadets stand and begin heading for the exit. Commanders Wecker and Stanfield approach the Czar. COMMANDER STANFIELD They have all been taught well. We should be so lucky to place our future in the collective hands of the cadets. CZAR SHEPARD I was a cadet once. Their duty will be carried out, no matter what obstacles lie before them. EXT. HIGH ORBIT OVER TULISTA, EARTH EMPIRE ADVANCE The combined might of capital ships and fighters of the Earth’s Omega Squadron, Marune’s Alpha Squadron, Sordaan’s Sigma Squadron, and Dorridion’s Delta Squadron Moon Base cadets begin to enter hyperspace, a vast display of military might, heading for the Bulgata home world. EXT. BULGATA HOME WORLD, PALACE BALCONY - MORNING Fedos, Fedora, and Raphsidy enter the palace balcony and observe as now three of their closest colonies have arrived, adding their armadas to the home world armada, the combined might of the congregated forces of which pepper the polluted sky. They speak in the alien language. RAPHSIDY We now have forces from three of the five colonies. It will be some time before the others arrive. FEDOS No matter. We will not attack the Earth Empire until forces from all colonies have been amassed. RAPHSIDY In my tinkering with our communications equipment I have discovered a way to interfere with devices the humans call satellites. My lord, my queen, I was thinking you could broadcast a message of fear to rattle the population of the colonies. FEDORA A very sensible idea and a useful tactical advantage to have, Raphsidy. Giving some kind of declaratory pronouncement would unsettle humanity an untold fold. FEDOS Yes, give us the Interpreters and we shall activate them before we leave Bulgata. Raphsidy appears visibly enthused. He reaches within the compartments of his garments and gives his lord and mistress the two Interpreters. They place them in their ears. INT. DROPSHIP Simon and Simone sit beside one another in the presence of other nameless cadets as the dropship cruises along in hyperspace, bound for Bulgata. SIMONE Are you worried? Simon considers. SIMON (CONT’D) I don’t think there’s anything else that the Bulgata can do to rattle us. Whatever awaits on the surface, we’ll be able to handle. And if it comes to losing my life, well, there’s nothing more noble that I can die for. Simone nods. Silence encompasses the dropship. Simon turns towards his sister. SIMON What about you? Simone hesitates and then reflects. SIMONE (CONT’D) Like you say, everything we have been through up to this point seems as if it has steeled us mentally, prepared us in a way. The destruction of Delta Squadron, the attack and occupation of Dorridion, the resistance...but through it all we’ve managed to survive. I’ve learned a lot throughout this conflict...mostly I just feel like we have right and truth on our side, and that somehow, someway, we’ll come out victorious. Now more silence encompasses the dropship until a message from the MALE PILOT garners everyone’s attention. MALE PILOT (O.S.) We’ll be exiting hyperspace shortly. Prepare yourselves. The twins steel themselves even the more. INT. DROPSHIP Langdon, Iris, and Jesse sit near one another, Iris between the two of them, as the dropship cruises along through hyperspace. The FEMALE PILOT speaks over the P.A. system. FEMALE PILOT (O.S.) We are now exiting hyperspace and are prepared to descend toward the planet. Langdon stands and addresses his troupe. LANGDON Listen up, everyone. This is what we’ve all been waiting for, a chance to end this conflict. Our mission is crucial. This opportunity cannot be missed, as it may never come again. We shoulder the fate of the entire human race, and what lies before us and the rest of the galaxy is freedom, or slavery. We have chosen freedom, now, let’s go and defend it. Nameless cadets steel themselves, some nodding at Langdon’s proclamations and others looking set and determined. Langdon repositions himself. JESSE Let’s do this! EXT. HIGH ORBIT OVER BULGATA, EARTH EMPIRE ADVANCE The massive Earth Empire armada (fighters, dropships, and star cruisers) set its collective sights on Bulgata. Jason and Matt in their fighters pass by us. JASON I don’t think they know we’re coming. MATT Good. It’s about time we had the advantage going into a battle. INT. BULGATA PALACE, EXTENDED HALL Raphsidy hustles through the extravagant hall, his garments moving about him, and passing many an on-comer. He makes it into the throne room, where Fedos, Fedora, and Illzar are present, Illzar standing to the right side of Fedos. Raphsidy is out of breath. They speak in the alien language. RAPHSIDY My lord--my queen, a massive fleet--is descending! It is the Earth Empire! Rage comes across Fedos’ face, and even Illzar shows some concern. FEDORA How...how could they have... RAPHSIDY I know not, my queen. But they have come-- with much brute force. I have already set our forces into motion. Fedos stands at the foot of his throne. FEDOS (CONT’D) The audacity of these fools. They still hold out hope that they can ultimately defeat us. It is futile to resist assimilation into the Empire. Come, Fedora. We must direct the offensive. ILLZAR I shall organize the Myrmidions of the palace in the case of an assault. Illzar hustles out of the throne room, while Fedos and Fedora follow after Raphsidy to the palace Command Center. INT. CZAR’S STAR CRUISER, BRIDGE Czar Shepard looks through the viewing screen along with Commander Wecker and Stanfield as the first of the Bulgata forces come into contact with the Earth Empire fighters and cruisers. Czar Shepard speaks to the MALE OPERATOR. CZAR SHEPARD Ensure that our special forces have adequate escorts to lead them to the surface of the planet. MALE OPERATOR Yes, sire. COMMANDER WECKER Do either of you think they have any idea what we have planned? COMMANDER STANFIELD We managed to capture Commander Saussler, so no message was broadcast concerning Tulista’s occupation, as far as we know. I would venture to say no. CZAR SHEPARD I agree with that assessment. This is the best position we have ever been in during this conflict. We must take full advantage. EXT. HIGH ORBIT OVER BULGATA, HEART OF THE BATTLE Matt pilots his craft through space, trailing after a Bulgata fighter. The immense chaos of battle rages on around them, but somehow they manage to avoid coming into contact with other fighters. Ahead, there is a Bulgata cruiser firing on humanity’s fighters. The Myrmidion leads his fighter to straddle the cruiser. MATT Oh, you’re a smart little cookie, aren’t you? Matt decides to continue following after him, and does an array of twists to avoid the cannon fire of the cruiser. Despite the maneuvering, he remains on the Myrmidion’s tail. Now he gets hints of locking on to him, the buzzer beeping for a second here or there, but it doesn’t last. Finally, he does get a good shot and sends a photon torpedo his way, exploding his craft. Jason flies through the pandemonium of battle, in pursuit of a Bulgata fighter. He continually fires his lasers, and from time to time scars the Myrmidion’s craft. The Myrmidion banks hard left, and Jason follows after him, when he becomes fired on from behind by a Bulgata fighter. JASON Calling in the reinforcements, are you? Somehow, Jason manages to continue to trail after the Myrmidion while using deft maneuvers to evade being locked on to the fighter that tries to shoot him down. Finally, he gets a clean shot and sends unwavering laser fire the Myrmidion’s way, breaking apart one of his wings and sending the craft to the floor of the universe. Now he puts on the speed in the midst of being fired on and amazingly doesn’t crash into any foes or allies and u-turns his way upwards to send a photon torpedo the pursuing Myrmidion’s way. He angles upwards to avoid the debris. EXT. BULGATA, AERIAL VIEW OF ARID FIELD - MIDDAY Simon, Simone, and the cadets accompanying them on their mission all stand while they are strapped in to the side of the dropship as it comes within landing distance of the planet, piercing the dark clouds. There is a wide opening in the back of the dropship that wasn’t there when it was flying through the universe, allowing the cadets to look at the polluted planet of Bulgata. A few fighters accompany them. The dropship begins to land, and the fighters return back to space. In the distance we can see the Confinement House. A good number of Myrmidions from the Confinement House begin to approach with their laser guns hoisted and they start to fire on the exiting cadets (the cadets numbering about 7). Simon and Simone lead the charge. Laser fire erupts from the cadets in a wave and shoots down the Myrmidions. Now the cadets hustle to make it to the Confinement House, with Simon and Simone leading the way. EXT. BULGATA, AERIAL VIEW OF PALACE AND DISTRICT - CONTINUOUS The dropship carrying Langdon, Iris, and Jesse similarly has its back bare, and they along with the other accompanying cadets are also strapped in. The dropship now approaches the wide entranceway of the profusely constructed palace, and several Myrmidions open fire on the craft. The craft lands, and the cadets unstrap themselves, pouring out of the dropship and engaging the Myrmidions, Langdon, Iris, and Jesse leading the charge. After dispatching them, they all (numbering about 9 cadets) make the ascent into the high double doors of the palace. Once inside, Langdon calls for a halt. JESSE Where to now? Langdon consults his helmet visor for directions. LANGDON I’m guessing a good place to start would be the Command Center. It’s this way. Be on the lookout for anything. Let’s go. The cadets hustle down a corridor (being led by Langdon), make a right and are greeted by a few retainers who put them on edge, each carrying bundles of baskets. The retainers show fear and even speak in the alien tongue but do not try to stop them as the go passed. Now they turn another corner (left this time) and enter into an intersection and are greeted by Illzar and a cadre of Myrmidion warriors on the other side of the intersection, armed with rifled lasers with their Tuskans pulled up high along their arms where they can’t be used. The cadets stop dead in their tracks. JESSE Uh-oh. Looks like we ran into some trouble. Illzar speaks in the alien language. ILLZAR Dispose of these intruders. Laser fire comes rushing towards the cadets, and they all collectively spin out of the way and hide behind giant war statutes lining both sides of the corridors. They return fire on the Myrmidions and some of them go down. Illzar also hides behind one of the statues and he fires and takes down one of the cadets, leaving them with eight left. Langdon, Iris, and Jesse each take down a Myrmidion apiece leaving only two left, not to mention the ones the nameless cadets have managed to elminate. Now there is just one unnamed and the other being Illzar. Finally, Langdon takes down the nameless Myrmidion leaving only Illzar. Illzar, using the cover of the great statue, begins to remove his Tuskan arm weapons and extracts out a small rod, pressing a button on it allowing it to extend. Langdon instructs the other three cadets to go on ahead. LANGDON The Command Center is just down that intersection. Go on ahead, we’ll be right behind you. The cadets bolt down the side of the intersection, away from where Illzar is. Illzar has removed his Tuskan arm weapons and they are now connected to the rod. He comes from behind the statue, putting his finger into his ear to activate the Interpreter. ILLZAR Your foolish expedition is at an end. He presses a button on his newfound weapon and something akin to electric energy begins to envelop all along the rod. He advances towards them. JESSE Blast him! The three begin firing at him and he holds his weapon up in the air and it attracts the laser fire to it like a magnet. Illzar remains safe, with a sneer on his face. LANGDON We’ll have to use our Killimaris. Langdon pulls out his Killimari weapon, and Iris and Jesse follow suit. They pace about Illzar, as he paces about them. Finally, Illzar charges them and the four of which become locked in combat. Illzar manages to deftly dodge and counter each of the cadets attacks, getting in attacks of his own that connect. Several times Illzar swipes and nicks at one of the three cadets, sending a small electric charge into them. If it were a direct hit, he would electrocute them. Illzar high kicks Langdon into oblivion, sending him sliding away from him. He manages to stymie both Iris and Jesse’s attacks while Langdon is away on the ground. He kicks Iris in the stomach, sending her crashing a good way away from him, and back-smacks Jesse, sending him crumpling to the ground. Langdon rushes towards Illzar just before Illzar is able to send Jesse a death blow and the two enter into a fierce display of wills. The two duck, dodge, and parry each other’s attacks seemingly without effort. Illzar tries to sweep Langdon with his Tuskan rod weapon and Langdon back flips out of the way. Now Illzar charges Langdon and begins to spin his weapon circularly using both hands. It whooshes and whooshes in the air while Langdon back peddles. Langdon feints and feints and quickly approaches where Iris and Jesse are recovering. Illzar suddenly stops spinning his Tuskan rod weapon and jeers at the all of them. He extends the weapon towards them and a jagged stream of electricity comes crashing towards them, the three of them tumbling out of the way. He stops and jeers again. They all look at one another. JESSE This is some kinda challenge. They look away from one another and charge towards him. Illzar is well prepared. EXT. HIGH ORBIT OVER BULGATA, HEART OF THE BATTLE Jason and Matt are a part of forces of wing men flying through the blackness and trying to take down a Bulgata capital ship. The cadets speak through their helmets. JASON She’s a whale of a ship, boys. Think we can take her on? MATT You just sit back on the sidelines, Jason, if you’ve got the willies. FEMALE CADET We’ve taken down a couple of its ilk before. If we get good support there shouldn’t be any problems. JASON You’re right. I think I’ll check into this fight, Matt, if you don’t mind me doing so. MATT Well, you know what they say: ‘With Delta fly boys on your tail chaos can’t be far behind.’ The two cadets kick it into high gear and engage the carrier as it fires back at them from several cannon positions, both fighter crafts of which launch photon torpedoes towards its hull. They fly over the cruiser and into us amid the explosions. INT. BULGATA, PALACE COMMAND CENTER Fedos and Fedora observe through the viewing screen the goings on of battle. The cadets that Langdon told to go ahead are strewn about on the floor. They speak in the alien language. FEDORA Report. RAPHSIDY Things are...not going well. FEDOS Elaborate. Raphsidy, using the controls, flips through a torrent of different view screens. RAPHSIDY We’ve lost forty percent of our fighters, and that number continues to rise. Our capital ships are showing strain and are spread thin, allowing the Earth Empire to converge on and destroy them using large numbers of fighters. And we have already lost...3 Command Centers across the surface of Bulgata, with more looking to follow. I...suggest a retreat. Fedos and Fedora show anger. FEDORA Unacceptable. FEDOS We are not abandoning the home world. We shall repel these invaders. RAPHSIDY It would be temporary, my lord and my mistress. Just until the remaining forces from the other colonies arrive. Then we can crush them. FEDORA We have made our decision, Raphsidy. Now, focus your efforts on repelling the insolent Earth Empire. Raphsidy looks withdrawn but nonetheless refocuses. INT. CONFINEMENT HOUSE, EXTENDED HALL Simon and Simone lead the charge through the corridor, taking cover behind occasional abutting structures that leak out of the wall. There are many congregated Myrmidions down the hall and they do the same. Simon is on one side while Simone is on the other. One of their own gets shot down some distance behind them. They speak over the tumult of the laser fire. SIMONE There’s just too many of them. We have to do something, and quick! SIMON I’ll use a PULSE GRENADE. Simon un-clips a spherical metallic weapon from his belt and flings it down the hall. The Myrmidions observe. It then let’s loose a clear gelatinous like force that lights up the hall and that encompasses them and only them, the Myrmidions squirming within it and falling in a heap after it dissipates. Simon speaks to the remaining cadets. SIMON Let’s go. The cadets hustle down the corridor. INT. BULGATA PALACE, EXTENDED HALL Langdon, Iris, and Jesse’s tussle with Illzar has gotten bloody. All of the cadets show blood in places (arms, legs, lips) and Illzar is rife with nicks and cuts. Illzar manages to defend himself against all three attackers at the same time. They each attempt to get in blows that are either blocked, parried, or countered. Both Langdon and Jesse rush him from beside one another and bring their Killimari weapons crashing into his Tuskan rod weapon and he blocks them both at the same time, holding his weapon in the air horizontally, while Iris rushes towards him in an attempt to finish him off. He puts force on his weapon, knocking the two male cadets off balance, then he extends his leg to meet Iris before she can begin her attack. Both Langdon and Jesse retreat to where Iris is sprawled out on the ground. LANGDON Are you ok? IRIS ...Yeah, I’m fine... Illzar approaches them from a distance. ILLZAR (CONT’D) You should observe your opponent at all times. Didn’t your masters ever teach you such a simple statement of fact? Illzar stretches his Tuskan rod weapon with a sneer like he is about send the electricity again, and Langdon and Iris brace themselves, but not Jesse. JESSE Not this time, buddy. He hurls his Killimari through the air and it comes out through the back of Illzar, puncturing his heart. He stumbles, clutching at where the blade is, drops his rod, and barely can get the words out. ILLZAR My lord...my queen...I’ve...failed you... He falls to the ground in a heap. Langdon, Iris, and Jesse converge on him. Iris checks his pulse. JESSE Hey, it came in handy. IRIS He seems to be dead. LANGDON He was, a worthy opponent... The three cadets think on that. Suddenly, Iris is reminded of something. IRIS What about the others who were sent to the Command Center? They haven’t returned yet. LANGDON You’re right. They could be in trouble. Let’s go. Langdon and Iris hustle down the hall, while Jesse halts. JESSE I’ll be taking this off your hands now if you don’t mind. He pulls the Killimari weapon out of Illzar, making a slushing sound. INT. CZAR STAR CRUISER Czar Shepard observes the chaos of battle through the viewing screen and gets the latest happenings from his Male Operator. MALE OPERATOR We’ve successfully taken control of another Command Center, sire. That makes four in total. Shepard looks towards his Commanders with relief. COMMANDER WECKER Things are looking to be going as good as we’d hoped. It seems we’ve really caught them at an opportune time. CZAR SHEPARD Yes, it would seem so. Keep me abreast of the latest developments on the planet. MALE OPERATOR Yes, sire. INT. BULGATA PALACE, EXTENDED HALL Jesse makes it to the hall where the Command Center is, he sees Langdon and Iris waiting patiently for him. They all look toward one another and nod, finally they go through the sliding door and behold Fedos, Fedora, and Raphsidy directing the Bulgata Empire’s offensive around the computer terminals, with dead cadets strewn about on the spacious floor. Fedos and Fedora turn towards them and activate the Interpreters in their ears. FEDOS Look, Fedora, more of the brazen have arrived. LANGDON We’ve come to end this. Fedora laughs wickedly. FEDORA (CONT’D) If your prowess in battle is akin to these misfits strewn about here, then you won’t be ending anything. But by all means, give it your very best. FEDOS The previous engagement was not to my liking in the slightest. We toyed with those others to the greatest extent of our whims. They flew from wall to wall with barely any regard for their well being. It was sad, really, when you take time to think about it. My love, let’s be a little more...inefficient with these three. Fedora laughs wickedly again. FEDORA (CONT’D) If that is what your soul craves, my dear, then so shall it be. The two stand beside one another and turn towards the three cadets, holding their hands out, and drawing weapons from man sized statues. They look like staves, but have long, jagged, serrated edges on one side. And they are metallic instead of wooden. FEDOS Raphsidy, carry on in our absence. It will be some time before we are satiated with this bout. Raphsidy looks fearfully towards the three cadets.
Copyright © 2008 Michael Harris |