Scene 84
MIDGAME: THE VICTORY BRIDGE -> H1BRIBL
WHERE EVERY VIDEO MONITOR ON THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A CLOSEUP OF A GLOWERING, TAUNTING HISSING THRAKHATH.
BRIDGE PERSONNEL ARE SCRAMBLING ABOUT, TRYING TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.
BLAIR JOINS HIS FELLOW PILOTS - - WE SEE COBRA, FLINT, HOBBES, VAGABOND, AND VAQUERO AMONG THE CROWD.
Maniac and Flash should also be seen if still alive.
BLAIR LOOKS AT FLINT.
BLAIR
What’s going on?
FLINT
Our comm system’s been jammed and - -
SHE GESTURES TO THRAKHATH’S IMAGE ON THE SCREENS - -
FLINT
- - guess who’s behind it?
EISEN
-> (to Rollins)
C’mon, Lieutenant! Don’t tell me you can’t do anything!
ROLLINS IS MADLY WORKING KEYBOARDS, SLIDERS, AND SWITCHES.
ROLLINS
I’m trying, sir. But it’s like some kind of video-virus - - or should I say, ‘worm’? This looks like a major debug - -
SUDDENLY THRAKHATH’S MULTIPLE IMAGES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SOUND OF HIS BOOMING VOICE:
THRAKHATH
I have read your Terran Bible, with its predictions that there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is about to be fulfilled. We will tear your tongues out, we will scoop out your brains.
COBRA
-> (whispering to Vagabond)
That ain’t all they’ll do . . . if they ever get their paws on us.
THRAKHATH
. . . You will be prime examples to the other races in the galaxy - - and clownish baboons for our amusement . . .
VAQUERO
-> (to the monitors)
For baboons, we sure have been gettin’ our shots in, Se–or Gato.
THRAKHATH
. . . Your race will suffer a thousand torments and more. Do not be emboldened by the presences of The Heart of the Tiger among you. Colonel Blair will be reduced to a pile of entrails . . .
THE VICTORY PILOTS REACT TO BLAIR BEING SINGLED OUT.
THRAKHATH
. . . I’ll see to it personally that you pay for every noble Kilrathi who has died at your hands in combat . . .
-> (beat)
I leave you and your miserable comrades to contemplate your ignoble futures . . .
HE BEGINS LAUGHING - - THE HIDEOUS, DEMONIC KILRATHI LAUGH THAT IS A LITTLE LIKE DICE RATTLING AROUND INSIDE A SKULL.
THE MONITORS FRITZ OUT IN FOUNTAINS OF RED, THEN GO DARK.
THE VICTORY CREW STANDS IN SILENCE FOR A MOMENT.
FINALLY, FLINT TURNS TO BLAIR.
FLINT
I didn’t know . . . you and he . . .
-> (beat)
. . . had a history.
BLAIR
-> (beat)
Yeah, Thrakhath and I have gone a few rounds . . .
EISEN
-> (raising and eyebrow)
He seems to have a special nickname for you.
BLAIR
That’s news to me, Captain. An ‘honor’ I could do without.
VAGABOND
You ask me, the cats are running a little scared.
EISEN
Perhaps our incursion into Ariel had something to do with that. Hobbes?!
FOR AN INSTANT, HOBBES SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE LOST IN THOUGHT . . .
HOBBES
Kilrathi believe always that war is psychological. It is a contest of wills as much as weapons.
VAQUERO
Talkin’ trash, is all I call it.
HOBBES
It is the politics of superiority. Not, perhaps, one of my race’s more admirable social constructs.
COBRA
-> (snorts)
“Social constructs.’ A pack of animals with ‘admirable social constructs.”
SHE WALKS OFF. HOBBES LOOKS A BIT CHAGRINED.
NOTE; This midgame has two possible endings:
CONDITION: IF this is Series E:
ROLLINS LOOKS UP FROM HIS COMM DESK.
ROLLINS
Captain, we have a Kilrathi force heading our way - - I think they came through that last jump point . . .
(beat)
And it doesn’t look like they’re runnin’ scared, sir.
EISEN TURNS TO BLAIR
EISEN
I’ll see you in the briefing room. CONDITION: IF this is Series I:
EISEN TURNS TO ROLLINS.
EISEN
I want every comm station up and running in an hour.
(to Blair)
I’ll see you in the briefing room.
ROLLINS
Yes, sir.
