Star Saga: Swarm Of The Bulgata (4) EXT. DORRIDION, SKY VIEW OF SPRAWLING BUSINESS DISTRICT - CONTINUOUS The fighters continue to escort the many dropships, scouring the perimeter of the business district. The buildings here are not constructed at heights sickness inducing like the ones in the metropolis. Simone and Matt sit across from one another as the wind coming from the open landing blows through their hair. The MALE PILOT speaks through a PA system from the cockpit. MALE PILOT We've got Bulgata spotted in the ORMANDY DISTRICT. Steady yourselves. We'll be there shortly. Simone and Matt glance toward one another. MATT You ready for this? SIMONE About as ready as I'm gonna be. MATT (pausing) Promise me something, Simone. SIMONE What, Matt? MATT If we make it out of this alive, you'll go out on a date with me. Simone smiles. SIMONE (continuing) I'll think about it, Matt. Matt considers. MATT (continuing) Well, that was more than I thought I was good for, so I'll take it. The pilot speaks again through the PA system. MALE PILOT Brace yourselves, we're coming in for a landing. The dropship shakes and quivers from a rough landing in a four way intersection. The Initiates file out of the dropship while other Initiates file out of a handful of different dropships and hustle down the desolate streets. Hover cars are strewn about haphazardly in the streets. In the distance many Myrmidions can be seen marching through the street in rank and file. Above and in the distance Bulgata fighters arrive. The Initiates scatter. Some hide behind parked hover vehicles while others hug tall buildings in the Intersection. Simone and Matt stay together to the side of a relatively tall building. The Bulgata at the forefront of the advance let loose laser fire on the Initiates and they return fire. � EXT. DORRIDION, BATTLE OVER WOODED AREA - CONTINUOUS The battle between the two forces rages on in the blue sky, with fighters from both armadas falling explosively to the ground. Simon positions himself in the hunt for a Bulgata fighter. The Myrmidion does an array of twists and careens this way and that as he avoids falling into Simon's cross hairs. Simon finally gets a clear shot and sends a photon torpedo the Myrmidions way, exploding his craft. SIMON Woooo-whooo! That's my sixth one! GARNET I've got four. JASON (in distress) I'm--being trailed hard. Simon looks at his radar. SIMON I see you on radar. I'm on it. Simon u-turns his way through the sky and avoids the chaos of battle as he makes his way to Jason's assailant. Soon he sees the Myrmidion trailing Jason like a shadow. SIMON I need to get a clear shot. Dip evasively towards the planet. Jason dips his craft straight downward and continues to sway this way and that to avoid laser fire. Simon at times gets the Myrmidion within his cross hairs but he averts disaster. Finally Simon gets a clear shot and sends unrelenting laser fire the Myrmidions way, taking out a wing and sending the fighter spinning towards the wooded area. JASON Thanks, Simon. I owe you one. SIMON Don't mention it. Let's get back to the battle. The two head back to the pandemonium of aerial combat. Jonathan flies his fighter expertly through the bedlam, taking out Myrmidions left and right. He speaks through his headset. JONATHAN I bet they didn't expect this kind of resistance after the Academy fell, boys. Let's keep it coming. A MALE CADET speaks through his headset. MALE CADET As long as no more Bulgata show up, we should be ok. INT. INTIDMIDATOR WARSHIP, BRIDGE Fedos and Fedora look on through the observation screen at the sky battles being waged. Raphsidy shows one video where the Bulgata contingent are hovering above a gray tiered structure. RAPHSIDY We've taken one of their Initiate Centers. FEDORA How goes the battle with the others? Raphsidy flips a few switches and brings up two different succeeding videos. RAPHSIDY (continuing) One of the battles has reached a stalemate. In the other one, the humans are putting up quite the resistance. FEDOS Send reinforcements to back up both advances. EXT. HIGH ORBIT OVER DORRIDION - CONTINUOUS Two arms of forces including both capital ships and fighters depart from the main contingent of the Bulgata armada and head toward their different destinations. EXT. DORRIDION, ORMANDY DISTRICT - CONTINUOUS The Initiates continue their battle with the Myrmidions. Fighters whom had escorted the dropships continue to find themselves engaged in battle with Bulgata fighters who have arrived. Simone and Matt remain to the side of the tall building, while other Initiates are in the street being covered by the parked vehicles. SIMONE (to Matt) How many more are left? Matt wheels towards a vehicle and counts mentally while firing on the approaching Bulgata. He returns to Simone. MATT (continuing) Far too many to count. Just now they look up as a Delta Squadron fighter gets blown out of the sky and crashes straight into a building, its remains falling near Simone and Matt, blocking them inside of the alleyway. MATT That was way too close for my liking. SIMONE We'll have to go around the alley to make it back. Simone leads Matt through the alleyway and they come out on the other side of a congregation of Myrmidions. They stand defeated. A Myrmidion speaks through his helmet. MYRMIDION Drop your weapons! They do so, slowly, and raise their hands to the sky as they are converged upon. INT. INTIMIDATOR WARSHIP, BRIDGE Raphsidy relays the goings on of the battle. RAPHSIDY Another Initiate Center has come under our control, my lord and mistress. FEDORA Excellent. Soon their resistance will be as nothing. EXT. DORRIDION, BATTLE OVER WOODED AREA - CONTINUOUS Jonathan flies maverick-like through the sky as he shoots down Bulgata fighter after fighter. The Male Cadet from earlier speaks through his helmet. MALE CADET Am I the only one who thinks the Bulgata forces have gotten bigger? JONATHAN These are two large opposing forces. It seems they were indeed reinforced under our eyes. We'll just have to make due. Jonathan wheels around through the sky dodging the fire of a Myrmidion who chases after him. JONATHAN Sorry, buddy. I won't be game to any Bulgata coward. After a time and much aerial skill he manages to lose the hunter through the chaos of battle. JONATHAN (excitedly) Yee-haw! Just a little too much shakin' and bakin' for that der fella. Just then Jonathan's reveries are broken as he comes ship to ship with a Bulgata fighter and they crash into one another, killing them both. Simon free falls through the sky trying to evade a Bulgata fighter. The laser beams from the crafts scar and burn his fighter. He V shapes his way upward and the Bulgata fighter continues after him. SIMON A little help here. GARNET I'll be there in a jiffy. Simon continues to evade the laser fire of the Bulgata craft when Garnet's craft descends from above and blows the Bulgata fighter to smithereens. SIMON Thanks, Garnet. GARNET It wasn't a problem. JASON (agitated) Guys--I'm being chased by two fighters. Simon looks at his radar. SIMON (continuing) I'll help to alleviate. Simon careens his fighter through the skies and heads through the tumult of battle towards Jason's pursuers. He looks in the distance and sees Jason trying to evade the laser fire of the two fighters. He positions himself behind the two of them and let's loose unwavering laser fire on one of them, knocking off a wing and sending the fighter spiraling to the ground. SIMON I've taken care of one of them. Stay calm as I get the other one. Simon tries to put the other fighter into his cross hairs but this Myrmidion is adept at avoiding being locked on. The three fighters continue the chase and after a time Simon finally locks on to him and sends a photon torpedo his way. The missile heads for its destination and just before it strikes the Bulgata sends a missile of his own, having locked on to Jason's craft. JASON He--he locked on to me! SIMON Crap! I'll try to shoot it down. Just keep accelerating. Simon embraces a method of boost and shortens the distance between he and the torpedo, but he is too late as it strikes the ship. JASON (frantic) I'm going down-- GREGORY Eject, Jason! JASON (frantic) The--the cockpit is locked! Simon can only look in horror as Jason descends ever further from view. These moments have cost him dearly, as a Bulgata fighter has now locked on to him and let loose a torpedo. His fighter buzzes with alarm. He ejects out of his craft and activates on his belt what are GRAVITY BOOTS which allow him to fall harmlessly but speedily towards the ground, with the chaos of the battle continually waged about him, fighters flying ridiculously close to him, hugging him. EXT. DORRIDION, WOODED AREA - CONTINUOUS Simon descends into the wooded area with a thud and picks himself up from the ground, looking about him. He speaks to himself. SIMON I've got to get back to the Initiate Center. He begins making his way through the wooded area. INT. INTIMIDATOR WARSHIP, BRIDGE Raphsidy relays the latest goings on of the last of the resistance. RAPHSIDY We have pounded the last of the resistance into submission. Their leaders have called for a retreat and are willing to discuss terms of surrender. FEDOS Prepare our escape pod, Raphsidy, along with an escort. We would meet with these leaders of Dorridion. RAPHSIDY You will again need the Interpreters and Amplifiers if you are to understand their speech. The Myrmidions have them equipped. You will find them in the pod. Fedos and Fedora head near the exit and stop near Illzar. FEDOS Come, Illzar. FEDORA Yes, we would not want to leave you away from the amusement. ILLZAR As you wish, my lord and mistress. Illzar follows behind his lord and mistress. EXT. UNISEE, PALACE LIBRARY - MORNING Iris stands and speaks near a Uniseeian FEMALE AIDE in the palace library. It is constructed with an abundance of beauty, bathed in the color of wood, shining and brilliant, with sculptures of figures of the Uniseeian past taking up its halls. A fountain stands in the very center of the all encompassing structure, made of crystal, its waters gushing forth Langdon approaches the duo as the Female Aide leaves. LANGDON Monafia will be here soon. She just had an errand to run for her father. Iris nods and smiles. She then takes in the splendor of the library. IRIS (continuing) This place, it's so beautiful. Iris laughs. IRIS (continuing) I could see myself taking up residence here, the whole of the planet I mean. She turns towards Langdon, who appears to have something on his mind. IRIS (continuing) Is something wrong? Langdon looks up at her, and then away. LANGDON (continuing) Just thinking, that's all. IRIS About--her? Langdon looks towards her again. The two stare at one another, not airing their thoughts. Jesse appears behind Langdon and facing Iris. He hesitates and observes before speaking and then approaches. JESSE (continuing) Guys, I've been lookin' everywhere for ya. Dorridion and Delta Squadron have been attacked. The Bulgata is now occupying the planet. Langdon speaks almost to himself. LANGDON The Bulgata-- Iris looks towards him concernedly. JESSE It's being broadcast now. Come on. The trio rush out of the library. INT. STAR CRUISER, DORM QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS Jesse leads Langdon and Iris through the lighted hall of the dorm quarters. They follow his lead through the dorm door and watch in silence as the Female Reporter reports in a three dimensional projection. FEMALE REPORTER --The siege of Dorridion and the Delta Squadron Academy began some three and a half hours ago. We are told that the Bulgata first wiped out the Academy, utterly, and then bent its focus on the planet. Commander A. P. Holton, in the interest of preserving lives, ordered the Initiates and remaining cadets to retreat, and is now brokering terms of surrender with the Bulgata commanders-- The Female Reporter goes on indistinctly. IRIS What are we going to do? They wiped out all of Delta Squadron. Langdon turns away from them and reflects. LANGDON (continuing) The Czar. I'm sure he'll come up with something. JESSE (frantic) I'm on edge. How can they wipe out an entire Academy? Langdon puts his hand to his chin. LANGDON (continuing) They must have expended a very large portion of their planet's fleet. And you're forgetting, they pretty much destroyed the surface of Earth. I just hope that the Czar has a plan to repel this latest attack, otherwise, we could be in for a rough ride. The trio turn their attention back towards the broadcast, and listen on in silence. EXT. MARUNE, DOCKS OF HIGH COMMAND - NIGHT Czar Shepard along with his two aides and Commander Wecker exit the Czar's Star Cruiser and are approached by several diplomats. DIPLOMAT #1 Sire, Dorridion-- CZAR SHEPARD Yes, I know. It was broadcast. What's the latest from Dorridion? DIPLOMAT #2 We have been trying to get into contact with them, but it seems all transmission has been halted since Holton's first distress signal. Commander Wecker speaks up. COMMANDER WECKER He may still be alive. These fiends kept Lord Dalaysis alive for a very great while before attempting to kill him. CZAR SHEPARD Perhaps. Now all of you, come. We need to discuss this with the other diplomats. They all follow Czar Shepard to the sliding door. INT. HIGH COMMAND, CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Czar Shepard enters into the floor of the conference room. It is shaped in the form of a dome and packed with officials from Earth, Marune, Sordaan, and Dorridion. The seats which they occupy take up two floors and when looked upon from above are in the form of a horseshoe. Czar Shepard moves toward the circular pattern housing a chair, and like the last crisis, he doesn't sit. A giant wall screen stands to the back of the circular pattern housing the chair. The voices of the diplomats drown out the speakers cries for order. SPEAKER Order, ORDER! The diplomats quiet down. CZAR SHEPARD No time for the pleasantries, Mr. Speaker. Gentlemen, let us get right down to business. How many capital ships and fighters can we have at Dorridion in seven hours time? Silence engulfs the conference room. Diplomat #1 speaks up. DIPLOMAT #1 If we take, say, half from Omega Squadron, half from Sigma Squadron, and half from Alpha here at Marune, I'd say-- DIPLOMAT #2 --Sire, you would leave the Academies and the rest of the colonies unprotected? CZAR SHEPARD I would do what is necessary to win back Dorridion. I will not let these cravens bully us any further. DIPLOMAT #3 If this is the route we are to take then we will have hundreds of capital ships engaged in battle alone. Should we not think of the plight we will put the people of Dorridion in? CZAR SHEPARD We need not worry about that aspect of the battle. All of the Initiate Centers are surrounded by woodland areas. It was a precautionary measure taken for just such an occasion. As much as I hate spontaneity mixed with military tactics, we must not allow the Bulgata time to reinforce their numbers. They were a big enough force to take out Delta Squadron and the Initiate Centers, but surely their numbers have dwindled since. COMMANDER WECKER We have already proven that we can challenge the Bulgata. We have won several skirmishes as well as the conflict in Unisee. The sooner we attack the better our chances will be. CZAR SHEPARD Indeed. Do we have any objections to this mode of action? Silence engulfs the conference room. CZAR SHEPARD Well then, gentlemen-- Czar Shepard as well as the rest of the diplomats attention is arrested towards the screen as it springs into action, showcasing Commander A. P. Holton, who is showing anger. CZAR SHEPARD Holton? HOLTON (resigned) Sire-- Just then Fedos and Fedora appear to either side of Holton. They speak English here and possess a hint of an English accent. FEDOS So this is the leader of humanity? Czar Shepard is it? This is where you make your final stand, Czar Shepard. Fedora laughs wickedly. FEDORA (continuing) And those behind we assume are your diplomats? Fitting that all of you should be gathered together to witness our hour of triumph. CZAR SHEPARD Your 'hour of triumph?' You scour the stars in search of impotent foes to add to your sham of an interstellar empire? This time you have met a match equaling your own. Fedos smirks. FEDOS (continuing) You speak brazenly for a leader who has seen his home world annihilated. A leader whose commander stands in abject reflection before his new masters. CZAR SHEPARD Do not misunderstand me. I have no reservations pertaining to your cowardice tactics. You have yet to see the full extent of the Earth Empire, no, not by a longshot. Fedora smirks. FEDORA (continuing) We shall see indeed, Shepard. As it stands things aren't looking so rosy for you and your people. Shepard looks angry. FEDOS We have contacted you to offer a choice. You can either submit now, or do battle with us. I would prefer the latter option, but if you would rather embrace enslavement and prevent the deaths of your people-- CZAR SHEPARD --We will do battle. And we will put an end to your interstellar tyranny. FEDORA Then we await your arrival, Shepard. Do not keep us waiting too long. The screen goes blank and Shepard turns to face his diplomats, looking spent. CZAR SHEPARD (continuing) Prepare for Alpha Squadron's departure, gentlemen. We have much adversity set before us. INT. SIMULATED GREEN HOUSE, BULGATA HOME WORLD - EVENING Green tinted Atla Borges and blue skinned Wynn Glynn are harvesting vegetables with other slaves in a simulated green house on the Bulgata home world. It is simulated because this planet's sky sheds no light. Bright light descends from the high ceiling of the structure, imitating sunlight. INT. FEEDING HOUSE - CONTINUOUS The slaves are being rounded up to feed. A Myrmidion stands at the forefront of them all and calls them by name via the referencing of a handheld computer terminal. Gindred, Atla, and Wynn receive their meals and then move on to a table to feed. ATLA So, Gindred, what has been happening on the Bulgata front? Gindred twirls his fork through his food and then sniffs it. GINDRED (continuing) There is a colony called Dorridion belonging to the Earth Empire. The Bulgata totally overran it. They destroyed the planet's defending space station, put down all resistance, and now occupy the planet itself. Wynn looks concerned. WYNN (continuing) How big of a planet is it? Gindred has a piece of meat on his fork and side glances at it. GINDRED (continuing) It's a pretty big planet, with a sizable population. One of the biggest of the colonized worlds from what I've been told. It also had one of biggest militaries. Atla has a look of amusement on her face as she twirls through her vegetables. ATLA (continuing) Gindred, these Myrmidions must have really taken to you over the years to share so much Intel. Gindred has by now placed the meat in his mouth and speaks with a mouthful. �� GINDRED (continuing) I don't know. It's pretty easy to get close to a Myrmidion, at least for me. He suppresses a cough. GINDRED (continuing) All you have to do is pretend as if you sympathize with their plight. Most of them don't want to be doing what they're doing Wynn looks around to make sure no one is looking and hunches forward. WYNN (continuing) We should use that to our advantage. Start a groundswell of resistance. If we can free ourselves, then we can overthrow the commanding couple. Then everyone everywhere will be free.
Copyright © 2008 Michael Harris |