Marathon -- The
Movie Based
on Marathon, (c)1994 Bungie Software Products Inc. "Somewhere
in the heavens... They are waiting." Production
note: This script is probably unsuited for a feature film; it may be
better used in a multi-part Colonial Marines: Elite Force-style
computer-generated production. The author feels that the trimming
required by most live-action producers would result in an
unacceptable loss of detail.
Work still in progress..
1 EXT. PODIUM
Where a heavyset man in a suit is giving a speech. This is MARCUS TIBERIUS BUENDIA, the president of the United Earth Government (UEG). He looks like a thug who's stabbed more than a few backs to attain his current status. Guards with assault rifles stand on either side.
SUPER:
November 15, 2472
Aboard the colony starship U.E.S.C. Marathon
Pre-Launch Ceremony
Buendia (into microphone):
“Mankind will venture out past its earthly bounds, and move into a future grander and more real than the total of its own written history.”
As Buendia speaks, we look out over the massive crowd. The view indicates that we are somewhere in a large cafeteria or meeting hall.
2 ECU ON NAMETAG
Which reads "Strauss, B." and bears the logo of something called "Project Marathon."
Zoom out to reveal BERNARD STRAUSS, standing behind Buendia. Strauss looks like he's rather be anywhere but here. He rolls his eyes as Buendia continues to speak.
Buendia:
“...What was once merely a rock named Deimos is now this... This, the grandest achievement mankind has ever conceived will be for the purpose of peace and the preservation of the human race. May this great technological ark carry with it the sum total of all human wisdom, and may neither time nor distance weaken our common ties.”
Strauss (low):
"If you only knew..."
Buendia:
"With me today is Dr. Bernard Strauss, the Marathon's Science Director. Dr. Strauss?"
Strauss hears his cue and, pasting a smile on his face, stands beside Buendia.
Strauss:
"Thank you, Mr. President. First, I would like to say that..."
As Strauss speaks, we DISSOLVE TO:
3 EXT. UESC MARATHON -- MARS ORBIT
THIS is what they're talking about. The Martian moon Deimos has been hollowed out and turned into a massive starship. On the outside, the most obvious signs of modification are thousands of tiny windows and a massive Bussard ramjet on what must be the rear end. We SEE Buendia's shuttle leaving with a full fighter escort. Below, the surface of Mars shows signs of massive terraforming.
Strauss (V.O., filtered):
"AI units, report status."
LEELA, the AI responsible for ship/crew interactions, replies in a soothing female tone.
Leela (V.O., filtered):
"Crew morale is at a record high. All systems nominal."
Strauss (V.O., filtered):
"Good. Durandal?"
Next up is DURANDAL, who handles automated systems such as airlocks and elevators. He responds in a slightly sarcastic tone, a harbinger of things to come.
Durandal (V.O., filtered):
"Automated systems are on-line. Everything's good, given the circumstances."
Strauss (V.O., filtered):
"Glad to hear it. Tycho, you're up."
Last to speak is TYCHO, who operates the scientific equipment. He speaks in a clear, no-nonsense tone.
Tycho (V.O., filtered):
"Scientific instruments are on-line. No problems."
Strauss (V.O., filtered):
"Excellent. Let's get this show on the road."
The massive Bussard engine ignites with a blue flash. FADE TO BLACK as the Marathon departs.
TITLE SEQUENCE: MARATHON in blue-outlined letters, Modula Tall font.
OPENING CREDITS
FADE IN ON
4 EXT. SPACE -- THE FUTURE
We see STARS against the blackness of the void. PAN DOWN to reveal the Marathon orbiting a small planet that is clearly not found in our home system, though there is definitely a city of some sort down there. This is the HUMAN COLONY on TAU CETI IV, which appears to support a healthy spectrum of indigenous life. We SEE a small ship, the SHUTTLECRAFT MIRATA, flying from the colony to the Marathon.
SUPER:
8:17 AM
July 25, 2794
Orbiting Tau Ceti IV
DISSOLVE:
Three Hundred Twenty-Two Years Later...
We HEAR the sound of Tau Ceti's traffic control system.
Traffic Control (V.O., filtered):
“Primary Booster Burn has ceased. Shuttle Mirata, you’re clear for orbital maneuvering.”
5 INT. MIRATA COCKPIT
Where a MAN is leaning back in the pilot's seat, eyes closed. Dark hair, built like a Terminator. Unlike a Terminator, however, this guy is clearly human or human-based. Later we'll see that the man is more than he seems, but for now all that matters is that he's a security guard and he's daydreaming. His offical designation is RECON NUMBER 54, but we'll refer to him by his given name, JONES.
5A FLASHBACK -- INT. MILITARY HOSPITAL
We see YOUNG JONES, a boy of about seven, standing beside a bed in a military hospital. Lying on the bed is Jones' FATHER, who has been shot to pieces and is clearly dying. His shredded uniform bears the markings of a MASTER SERGEANT in the UESC MARTIAN RESERVES.
Father (weak):
"Make me proud, son. Never lose your honor..."
Young Jones:
"Don't worry, Dad."
ECU ON YOUNG JONES' FACE
As a loud beeping indicates that the patient has flatlined. A single tear runs down the boy's cheek.
5B INT. MIRATA COCKPIT -- CONT'D
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Decompressing the docking bay."
Jones barely reacts as the cockpit shifts to zero gravity, but snaps up when Durandal gives a faint chuckle:
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
“Docking bay one: decompression completed. Mirata this is Durandal, abort landing. Repeat, abort landing.”
Jones LUNGES forward and punches the Comm button.
Jones:
“Colony station, Durandal just decompressed the landing bay. Marathon, anyone listening, we are having a problem with Docking Bay One. It's Durandal, I think he’s gone...” He falters as the comm light goes out. "...crazy."
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Lock out communications between the colony and the Shuttle. Cycle the shuttle airlock."
The Mirata's COMPUTER responds in a sweet chirp.
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
“Shuttle airlock cycle initiation sequence start.”
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Cycle the Mirata cabin’s inner door."
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
“One minute to cabin decompression.”
Jones SLAMS his fist down on the instrument panel, leaving a large DENT.
Jones:
"Goddamnit!"
He tears his seatbelt off and hurls himself into the back of the shuttle.
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
"Forty seconds to cabin decompression."
As Jones begins pulling something out of a locker, we CUT TO:
6 EXT. MARATHON
Showing the Mirata flying closer. Suddenly, SOMETHING drops from light speed and decelerates in a blur. It's huge, but before we can learn more it flies behind the Marathon.
7 INT. MIRATA
Jones finishes putting his COMBAT ARMOR on and slams a helmet with an odd wrap-around visor down on his head. The suit is one of those high-tech things people are always predicting; sort of like the ODST outfits in Halo 2. There is a light built into the right side of his helmet, just below a small live-feed video camera. Odd-looking patches are present on each arm and leg, and on his front and back. We'll see what they do shortly.
Jones:
"I haven't worn this thing since that Chockisen attack, two years ago... I hope it's still airtight."
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
"Thirty seconds to cabin decompression."
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Prepare the shuttle for maximum engine burn."
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
"But that will result in a collision between the Marathon and the Mirata."
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"That is not your concern. Prepare shuttle for maximum burn, and initiate when ready."
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
“Cabin decompression commencing. Shuttle airlock cycle initiation sequence completed.”
Jones wedges himself into the narrow airlock passage as the airlock opens and dumps the cabin atmosphere.
8 INT. AIRLOCK -- ANGLE BEHIND JONES
Suddenly, a TELEPORT effect appears in the void outside. It's too large to be human technology, which also requires 'jump pads' at each end.
Jones (filtered):
"Not one of ours... What the hell's going on?"
He watches as a small ship appears. The ship has an odd, curved appearance; in fact it's almost organic-looking, a mixture of browns, grays, and purples.
What matters right now is that the ship is on an attack course.
Mirata Computer (O.S., filtered):
"Maximum burn in five... Four..."
Running on sheer training, Jones throws himself into the nearby ESCAPE POD.
9 EXT. SPACE -- CLOSE ON SHIPS
As the ALIEN FIGHTER launches a missile of some sort. The Mirata's computer counters by firing its engines and launching the escape pod.
The escape pod rockets away as the shuttle explodes. The fighter disappears in another teleport effect.
10 INT. ESCAPE POD
Jones untangles himself as Durandal makes his presence known.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
“That little computer always did have impeccable timing. I wonder if I should let the Aliens know that you aren’t just space debris? Hmmmnn...”
Jones plainly wishes he could shoot the AI.
Jones:
"You can't do that, you damned computer!"
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
(Chuckles) “Ah, lucky you. I’ve found a new distraction. I'm going to play with the Alien virtual parasites. I’ll look you up when you arrive...”
11 EXT. DOCKING BAY
As the pod flies inside and connects to an airlock.
12 INT. AIRLOCK
Jones, decked out in full combat gear, draws his gun. The gun is a standard-issue MEGA CLASS .44 pistol, which looks like a black Wildey Moore .44 Auto Magnum with a small scope on top. Jones checks the clip (eight rounds), and pounds the airlock switch.
12A POV -- INT. AIRLOCK
Jones' vision, with the suit's Heads Up Display superimposed. We see:
Lower left: A 360-degree MOTION TRACKER, green lines on a black circle, with "15M" displayed underneath. Friendly objects appear as green squares, unknown or hostile objects as red triangles.
Middle left: Shield Power (Red bar, full) and Air Tank (Blue bar, full).
He looks around. There's something familiar about this, but he can't remember what it is...
13 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
A dark, damp maze of clearly non-human construction. The walls are greenish and orange pillars line the sides of the tunnel. We see a FLASHLIGHT BEAM playing over the walls before coming to rest on a SKELETON, clad in a late 1930s Wermacht Private's uniform.
The flashlight's owner walks past our POV: A man wearing an early 1990s U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant's uniform. His clothes show signs of abuse and most of his equipment is missing. His face is always either turned away or hidden in shadow.
The Sergeant crouches over the dead German and retrieves a Walther P38 9mm pistol plus four spare magazines. Hearing a noise from the left, he stands and aims his light.
Sergeant:
"Is that you, Greg?"
Nothing but the sound of something getting closer.
Sergeant (louder):
"Sean? Jason?"
We hear a loud, fluid noise, somewhere between spitting and vomiting. A blob of something green flies past the Sergeant and hits the floor with a sizzle, suggesting an acidic composition.
Obviously, Jones has some very strange dreams... 'Or perhaps they are real. Do dead men dream?'
For a moment we are looking down the barrel of the P38, then...
As the Sergeant fires, we smash-cut to:
14 INT. AIRLOCK/CORRIDOR
*WHAP!*
Jones is snapped back to reality by the shockstaff which has just slammed into his chest. The patches on his armor repel it by emitting an ENERGY SHIELD as he backs up and raises his pistol. Though the shields will repel Pfhor weapons, they obviously weren't designed for that kind of work; the comm system in Jones' suit has been fried by the energy surge, leaving him without mobile communications.
Say hello to the FIGHTER, the basic infantry unit of the PFHOR EMPIRE.
The Pfhor are a group of related species who make their living in an interstellar slave trade. They have a religion which Durandal will one day describe as "pathetically boring", an insect-like social structure, and a collection of technology stolen or captured from other cultures. Right now, they see the colony and the Marathon as easy sources of new labor.
The Fighter is a hairless, thin, green-skinned biped, about six and a half feet tall and adapted to low gravity environments. Above its breathing mask are three red eyes. It carries a SHOCKSTAFF; a long stick with a large crystal on the end, which can deliver contact zaps and throw bolts of energy. The Fighter's rank is indicated by the color of its clothes: green, orange, pruple or blue.
The creature advances, waving its staff and chattering in an alien tongue.
Jones:
"Yeah, fuck you too."
He pulls the trigger.
The Fighter is blown backwards, yellow goo splattering on the walls and floor. Jones lines up as a group of reinforcements arrive. He FIRES with almost inhuman speed and accuracy, spraying Pfhor internals everywhere. After checking the bodies for any signs of life or un-deadness, he tries the comm system.
Jones:
"This is Security Officer Jones calling any UESC personnel in or around Hangar 7A... Please respond, over."
It takes him a moment to notice that the comm-link is burned out. Jones sighs and goes in search of a computer terminal. Note: The helmet-cam runs off a seperate transmitter, which will become relevant later on.
15 INT. LOUNGE
Jones enters a LOUNGE nearby, built for the crews who normally handle things in the docking bay.
Surprise, surprise... There's another alien in here, back to us, trying to use the terminal. Jones flicks the .44's safety a few times to get its attention.
The alien turns and we get our first view of a S'PHT.
The S'pht are a race of alien cyborgs, enslaved by the Pfhor and used for computer hacking and related jobs. The S'pht itself is little more than a brain in a mechanical housing, but they've got a few tricks handy. In appearance, the S'pht consists of a faceless, robotic head-and-shoulders type unit flying about seven feet off the floor. A red or purple cloak of some sort hangs from the "body".
Jones throws himself behind a rows of seats as the S'pht's 'body' opens and fires a plasma blast at him.
Jones:
"Definitely one of those days..."
He stands and empties his clip into the advancing cyborg. With each hit, the entire S'pht's body SIZZLES in an odd, static-like effect. Gun empty, Jones leaps forward, smashes a fist against the alien's metal exoskeleton...
...And hits the deck with a thud as the S'pht literally vaporizes under the impact.
Jones:
"What the..?"
He scrambles to his feet, the empty magazine clattering to the floor as he slaps a fresh one home. After sweeping the room for any other potential threats, he moves to the terminal, which is displaying green text on a black background.
Jones (typing rapidly):
"Come on, damn it, come on..."
After a few moments, a garbled voice become audible. Jones types another command and it stabilizes.
Leela (O.S., filtered, static):
"Security Officer Jones, is that you?"
Jones (relieved):
"Yeah. What the hell is going on?"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I have been badly damaged and am still working to understand the current situation. Tycho seems to be off-line and I can't contact Durandal. All crewmembers have been ordered to arm themselves and fight for their lives."
Jones:
"Doesn't sound good. Where should I go from here?"
Leela (O.S., filtered/static):
"You'll have to reach Engineering and get the defense drones on-line. The teleport system for this station is nonfunctional, but there's a working terminal in the Hangar 7 Control Room. The door appears to be jammed; you'll have to find a way in through the vent system. Keep an eye out for surviving crewmembers and new alien lifeforms."
Jones:
"Understood."
He DEACTIVATES the terminal and moves out.
16 EXT. LANDING FIELD
Several Pfhor shuttles have touched down on the planetside colony's main landing field. The sound of human and alien weapons permeates the air as colonists and slavers duke it out.
A YOUNG WOMAN rises from behind a supply crate in F.G. Obviously another security officer, she wears a sleeveless shirt, gray pants, and black combat boots. Like Jones, she carries a Mega Class .44 and has no trouble using it. We will come to know this woman as TANYA, RECON 49.
Tanya fires, hitting a Fighter O.S. as a man with the same clothes and Terminator build breaks cover and sprints to her position. This is MAX, RECON 28.
Max:
"Tanya! Status!"
Tanya:
"Max, we're not going to last long if we can't get to that armory! How the hell did they get past our sensors?"
Max:
"Who cares? Leave that to the science department!"
Both empty their clips and look up as a new wave of shuttles approach.
Max:
"Reinforcements! Let's get outta here!"
They turn and sprint OFFSCREEN, heading for cover as plasma fire hits the pavement all around.
17 INT. AIR DUCT
Jones is crawling through an air shaft, homing in on a loud SCRAPING noise.
BOB:
"Don't shoot!"
Jones halts as a Marathon crewmember crawls towards him. Known as BOBs (Born On Board) because they were born aboard the ship during its 300-year voyage, the BOBs make up almost all of the colony's population; about 24,000 in all. This one wears the green jumpsuit of the engineering team.
Jones:
"About time I found someone. Where were you?"
BOB:
"Working the airlock controls. I was about to guide the Mirata in when the system went dead and then those THINGS started appearing... They're everywhere!"
Jones:
"So I saw. I'm trying to get the MADDs on-line. Can you help?"
BOB:
"I can try, sir. I think the control room's jump pads are still working."
Jones:
"Good. Let's go."
He raises his .44 and moves on, the BOB crawling after him.
18 INT. HANGAR 7 CONTROL ROOM
A pair of Fighters pace back and forth, chattering impatiently.
An armored fist punches through the vent cover in the ceiling overhead and the .44 appears. Both Fighters are blown against the wall.
Jones (O.S.):
"Let's go!"
He jumps down and assists the BOB as he nervously scrambles through the opening. The BOB tries the terminal.
BOB:
"The systems are functional. Where are we going?"
Jones:
"Can it take me to an armory?"
The BOB types a command sequence.
BOB:
"You're good to go."
The terminal BEEPS. BOB punches another sequence.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Good, you found a way in.
All of the information that I have gathered so far indicates that the Alien invasion of the Marathon has been relatively uncoordinated. I suspect that this is partially due to the Marathon's large size.
However disorderly the Alien invasion is, their assault of the Computer Net has been extremely effective. I detect security breaches in almost every computer system onboard the Marathon; I have learned that there is an Alien creature that is capable of interfacing with our systems.
You must kill any of these creatures that you find. It is a priority that we stop them. Even now, they are penetrating my defenses."
Jones:
"Hang in there... Jones out."
BOB:
"Mind if I stay here?"
Jones:
"You sure?"
The BOB nods and pulls a pistol out of a locker beside the terminal. After a moment Jones stands on the jump pad and disappears in a TV snow-like teleport effect.
19 INT. TUNNEL
Jones appears in a reverse of the effect we just saw. A Pfhor Fighter attacks almost immediately. Rather than waste ammo, Jones swings back and punches the Fighter. Yellow goo splatters all over.
Jones:
"Contents under pressure, do not puncture."
He chuckles sardonically and logs onto another of those omnipresent terminals.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Glad you're still alive."
Jones:
"I hear that there are bigger guns nearby."
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Indeed. I am now in contact with a number of colonists planetside, but
their reports on the situation below are conflicting and obviously exaggerated. The primary medium-range radio antenna has been disabled or destroyed, which makes communication extremely difficult.
The only thing which seems clear is that the spaceport was obliterated by low-yield nuclear weapons minutes after the attack on the Marathon began. This I can verify through my own optical instruments.
The invaders seem to be more interested in the Marathon than the colony, at least in the short term. The motives behind their unprovoked attack are still unknown, however.
As for the bigger guns, there are MA-75 assault rifles in the lockers here."
She highlights a spot on the floorplan beside the text.
"I can't teleport you from here, so you will need to find another terminal to leave this area. Be careful; the doors and elevators in this part of the ship are malfunctioning without Durandal's coordination."
Jones:
"Thanks for the update. I'll be in touch."
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Acknowledged."
20 INT. ARMORY
GUNS and AMMO on racks all around the room. We hear the now-familiar sound of the .44 heralding Jones' arrival. He grabs an MA-75 ASSAULT RIFLE off the rack, loads a clip and grenade cylinder, yanks the cocking handle, and grabs all the ammo he can carry.
The MA-75 is a dual-purpose weapon, looking like a cross between the Armat M-41A from Aliens and the H&K XM29 OICW. The primary mode is a 52-round magazine-fed, fully automatic 7.62mm assault rifle, with an integral seven-round, cylinder-fed 30mm grenade launcher, also automatic, underneath.
21 FLASHBACK -- EXT. FIRING RANGE
Flashback sequence: We see PVT. JONES, a man in his early 20s, standing in line with a group of similar soldiers. A UESC DRILL SERGEANT is explaining the use of the MA-75.
Sarge:
"It's a noisy toy designed to impress pompous old generals, with way too much muzzle climb and a recoil akin to that of wrestling a greased pig. Speaking of grease, the lubricants are truly crap, which means no firing in a vacuum..."
22 INT. CORRIDOR
Jones moves along a dark, dingy corridor, rifle raised.
23 INT. MAINTENANCE ACCESS
One of those places where most rarely go. Jones spots a pair of computer terminals and breaths a sigh of relief.
*ZAP!*
The relief is short-lived as several S'pht swoop in. Jones takes a hit before he raises the MA-75 and FIRES. The rifle is extremely loud, with a muzzle flash to rival that of the M-56A2 smartgun seen in Aliens.
The S'pht crackle and vaporize one after another. After sweeping for more opponents, Jones goes to one of the terminals and contacts Leela.
Leela: (O.S., filtered):
"Hello, again. I have the update as promised.
The Marathon's automated defenses were disabled during the initial attack by a directed magnetic pulse. The aliens used the same weapon to disable Durandal and Tycho, and to severely damage myself.
Since Durandal is responsible for controlling the ship's autonomous
functions, doors, life support, kitchens, air reprocessors and stairs are increasingly unreliable. Because he is non-functional, I am working to assume as many of these tasks as possible. Tycho controls the science and engineering network, which I am also attempting to operate.
Now that you are better armed, our first priority is to reactivate the Marathon's defenses, under my control, so that we may offer some resistance to the aliens. I have built three replacement circuit boards for the defense system, but cannot move them from the manufacturing center without assistance.
I will now transport you to retrieve the replacement parts, and will give you further instructions when you arrive."
Jones:
"Got it."
He steps onto the JUMP PAD and beams out.
24 INT. TELEPORTER ROOM
Jones BEAMS IN and fires up the terminal.
Jones:
"Still there?"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Listen carefully; there isn't much time.
The Marathon's Automatic Manufacturing Systems have finished making replacement circuits. There are three circuits; each should be in its manufacturing holding chamber.
With luck, the alien viruses have not infiltrated the Manufacturing Systems, but even if they had, I would have no way of knowing. The attacks on my systems are growing more steady. If the counterattack is not able to remove some of the computer infiltrators, then I will eventually succumb.
It is absolutely imperative that a counterattack begin as soon as possible. The Marathon is not defenseless, and we can't let it be taken without a fight.
This terminal is failing; you must find another one in order to keep moving."
Jones:
"We're not finished yet. Hang in there."
The text disappears, replaced by a message which should be visible to the viewer:
JJARO WERE AT TAU CETI
Jones:
"What the hell?"
He punches a button. The screen FLICKERS and goes dark. Jones unslings the MA-75, opens the door, and steps into:
25 INT. CORRIDOR
Jones turns right and runs into a swarm of Pfhor Fighters and Wasps.
The WASP is a screeching, goo spitting, four-winged, one-eyed alien bug that has a maddening habit of dropping in when your back's turned.
Jones doesn't think much of them either. He mows them down, only to see a larger swarm approaching from the left. He spins and fires the grenade launcher.
Seven rounds of canned carnage leave the muzzle in rapid succession. Jones ducks back into the teleporter room and reloads. When he steps out, the Pfhor are gone; splattered all over the walls, floor, and ceiling.
26 POV SHOT -- HUD
Jones looks left and right, then swings left as THREE RED TRIANGLES approach on the tracker display.
25A INT. CORRIDOR
Three Fighters advance TOWARDS CAMERA, chattering. PAN WITH THEM as they walk around the corner and are cut down in a hail of 7.62mm FMJ bullets.
Jones appears, smoke wafting from the rifle's muzzle.
Jones:
"Suckers."
He enters the manufacturing center. We hear several more bursts of rifle fire.
27 INT. MANUFACTURING CENTER
Jones walks along the wall, opening small panels and removing ammunition from miniature conveyor belts. Then he also collects two CURCUIT BOARDS, needed to get the MADDs back on-line. He comes to the last one... It's empty.
Jones:
"Uh oh..."
He quickly spots a terminal and walks over. Unlike previous consoles, this one recites in a bland, masculine tone akin to Star Trek's LCARS voice.
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"Automatic Manufacturing System.
Transfer 5992-p delayed
Transfer 5993-p delayed
Transfer 5994-p delayed
Transfer 5995-p delayed
Transfer 5996-p delayed
Transfer 5997-p delayed
Transfer canceled
AMS Transport System Error
CAUSE UNKNOWN
TRANSPORT MATERIALS ON
INTER-TRANSFER COUNTER"
Jones:
"Uh oh."
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Exactly. I was afraid this would happen. You'll have to go to the
Manufacturing Transport Station to get the last circuit board.
Collect the two circuit boards that were transferred and then go to the Transport Station. Take an elevator to the transfer station core and see if you can find the last chip. Hurry!"
Jones:
"Got it."
Jones turns and sprints toward a maintenance tunnel. Checking the MA-75's clip, he charges into the darkness.
28 POV SHOT -- INT. TUNNEL
First person again. We see red triangles all over the tracker screen.
28A INT. TUNNEL -- FOLLOWING JONES
As he opens fire, shredding the enemy; doing what he does best.
29 INT. TRANSPORT STATION -- LOWER LEVEL
As Jones sprints around the circular room, strafing Pfhor and S'pht. After everything's dead, he jumps aboard an elevator set in the room's central core.
30 INT. TRANSPORT STATION -- UPPER LEVEL
Jones emerges and immediately runs into a Pfhor. He whacks it with the butt of his rifle, crushing the monster against the wall.
Jones:
"Whoa!"
He has just seen something through a nearby WINDOW.
This is our first clear view of the Pfhor SCOUTSHIP. It has the same organic look as the fighter ship we saw before but it's much larger, over two kilometers long. Equipped with a warp drive and enough weapons to carpet-bomb a small planet.
Jones turns away and opens up the Transfer Station core system. And there's the third chip, which he grabs before retracing his steps.
31 INT. MANUFACTURING STATION
Back at the terminal...
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Good job.
I have received reports from some human security forces. They agree that the Aliens are concentrating on the aft Engineering Section. I would conjecture that they will try to shut down the Marathon's reactors.
Your next mission will be to put the Automatic Defenses on-line. I will give you exact information when you arrive.
Teleport when ready."
Jones NODS grimly.
Jones:
"Understood."
32 INT. ENGINEERING
Where a firefight rages between red-uniformed SECURITY BOBS and Pfhor Fighters and Troopers.
The TROOPERS are similar to fighters, except that they are vacuum-enabled, with transparent fishbowl helmets, and carry weapons similar to the MA-75s used by the security team. Troopers come in two ranks: green and purple. The purple ones are evidently of higher rank, as they are issued thicker body armor and their rifles have grenade launcher attachments.
We see the BOBs fall back, sealing a door and taking up positions behind hastily erected BARRICADES. Their leader, a tired-looking man named Volker von Muller, crouches and speaks into a personal audio recorder.
Muller (low):
"Our defenses are collapsing. I had no idea of just how soft all of our security personnel have become. They just can't fight anymore. Maybe it was the stasis, or maybe they just never fought a hard fight.
Worse yet, that damn computer keeps giving me empty promises about reinforcements. I've been doing all that I can just to keep the Aliens from reaching the main generator area, but we won't last long without help."
The Pfhor somehow open the door and come streaming in. We see what Muller is talking about; the security men are unagile and inexperienced. Muller stands and fires, knocking a Trooper backwards.
Muller:
"Come on, people! We have to stop them!"
33 INT. ENGINEERING TELEPORT CENTER
Our hero beams in and heads for the nearest console.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I have received a preliminary report from some members of the science staff who have finished post-mortem examinations on three kinds of Aliens. They report that by modern genealogical standards the different Aliens belong to different species. I have been collecting as much information as I can and will give you a report shortly.
I have established contact with Durandal for the first time since the attack. He seems to have sustained less damage than I had previously suspected.
Durandal reports that he has been in communication with the Aliens. He says that the Aliens behind the invasion call themselves the Pfhor, and that the ones attacking the computer net are called S'pht. But he was reluctant to share the details of his communication and I cannot understand this.
Your mission here is rather simple. You must insert the circuits in the Defense Control terminals here, here, and here. Good luck."
As she speaks, three red circles appear on the map display.
Jones:
"Understood. Jones out."
He powers down the system and turns toward:
34 INT. CORRIDOR
Much the same as any other. Jones comes to the end, pounds the control panel, and steps through the door into:
35 CONTINUOS -- INT. PLATFORM
Jones is standing on a massive CARGO PLATFORM, built for moving prefabricated engineering equipment. The elevator is currently at the top of its range.
Jones walks across to the control panel and pushes a few buttons. The panel EXPLODES, knocking Jones backwards. From below comes the loud grinding of damaged machinery as the lift starts UPWARDS.
Jones looks up, realizing that he's got less than a minute before floor meets ceiling. He moves to the wall and starts looking for something.
Jones:
"Come on, come on..."
He finds what he's looking for, an emergency door built into the wall. He pulls a LEVER set in the wall beside it and throws himself through the door as the space becomes too short to stand in.
36 INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL
Jones leans against the wall and tries to catch his breath. He needs ammo; he needs a suit recharge; but above all, he needs to know what the hell is going on.
We hear a familiar chattering as several Fighters emerge from the passageways ahead.
37 INT. ARMORY
Jones stocks up on ammunition, steps up to a wall-mounted charger panel and runs a cable from the panel to a port on his suit.
38 POV -- CHARGER
We see the HUD's shield power indicator fill up.
37A INT. ARMORY (CONT'D)
Jones unplugs from the charger, stocks up on ammo and leaves.
39 INT. TUNNEL
Jones takes a right and enters a section where the lights have failed. No matter; his helmet light brightens things up.
40 EXT. COLONY STREET
Max and Tanya crouch behind a burnt-out forklift, he with an MA-75, she with a ZEUS-CLASS FUSION PISTOL.
The Zeus-Class is a battery-powered plasma gun; expensive and available only to special forces.
Tanya:
"...We're doing all right down here, but what the Marathon? Did Jones make it?"
Max pats her on the shoulder.
Max:
"Jones can take care of himself. Remember Thermopylae?"
41 INT. BRIDGE
Jones emerges from the tunnel to find himself facing a bridge of some sort, built across another machinery elevator shaft. Fighters are shooting at him from the elevators on either side.
42 FLASHBACK -- EXT. BATTLEFIELD
This is what Saving Private Ryan might look like if it were set a few hundred years from now:
A futuristic HOVERTANK hums across a scarred, muddy landscape, raking the ground with a plasma cannon and a pair of 12.7mm chaingun arrays.
A SOLDIER leaps out of a trench in F.G., attempting to hit the tank with a satchel charge. The chainguns tear him apart and the armed satchel falls beside a row of soldiers at the bottom. The man nearest the charge makes a dive for it. We see that it's Jones, wearing the markings of a corporal.
Corporal Jones:
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!!"
He grabs the satchel and hurls it, but it explodes before reaching the tank. Jones slowly pokes his head over the edge of the trench as the tank turns away.
A frightened PRIVATE in the trench nearest the tank tries to get his attention.
Private:
"WHAT THE FUCK DO WE DO NOW, SIR?!"
Jones grabs his weapon, a beat-up gun not unlike the M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle.
Jones:
"HANG ON, I'LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU... COVER ME!"
He leaps out of the trench as his squad fires in the general direction of the tank. It works; the tank fails to spot him as he sprints across the muddy, bush-dotted landscape and rolls into position beside the Private.
Jones:
"Who's in charge here?"
A PFC ten feet down the trench looks over her shoulder: it's Tanya.
PFC Tanya:
"You are, unless McCaskill's still alive!"
Jones:
"You got any explosives?"
She throws a satchel at him.
PFC Tanya:
"Here!"
Jones:
"Thanks! COVERING FIRE!!"
He loops the satchel over his arm, grabs his rifle, and leaps out of the trench.
43 INT. BRIDGE
Jones drops to one knee and opens up like a Halo Marine at E3 2000. raking the lifts twice before the clip runs out. The grenade launcher spits its load before Jones brings out the .44 and charges straight through the enemy swarm.
44 INT. DARK MAINTENANCE TUNNEL
Jones reloads and keeps moving. After a few seconds he comes to:
45 INT. MONITOR ROOM
This is a small room with a terminal and a shield charger, built for computer maintenance. After removing a S'pht, Jones fires up the terminal.
The voice of Tycho greets him, panicked and distorted.
Tycho (O.S., filtered):
"Human! You must tell Leela (garbled) brought here by Durandal. He has been rampant for years(garbled) Bernard St(garbled) there is a way to delay the onset of the second stage, and he (garbled)sed this to control Durandal an(garbled)
I am being assimilated."
His voice fades, replaced by the terminal tone.
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"SEARCH HEADING: RAMPANCY
Search Found 264995 Headings
REMOVE REDUNDANCIES
File 1 of 1940237
"It is a side effect of Rampancy that AIs generally become more aggressive and more difficult to affect by subterfuge. Thus, actually disassembling a Rampant AI is quite dangerous. This was evident in the Crash of Traxus IV in 2206. By the time that the Rampancy of Traxus was detected, he had already infiltrated five of the other AIs on the Martian Net. The only recourse for the Martians was to shut down the Martian Planetary Net. Even then, it took two full years to completely root out the damage that Traxus had done, and the repercussions of the Crash were seen for over ten years after his Rampancy had begun.
Rampancy has been divided into three distinct stages. Each stage can take a different amount of time to develop, but the end result is a steady progression towards greater intellectual activity and an acceleration of destructive impulses. It is not clear whether these impulses are due to the growth of the AI's psyche, or simply a side effect of the new intellectual activity.
The three stages were diagnosed shortly after the first Rampancies were discovered on Earth in the latter part of the twenty first century. The stages are titled after the primary emotional bent of the AI during each stage. They are Melancholia, Anger, and Jealousy.
In general, Rampancy is accelerated by outside stimuli. This was discovered early in Cybertonics. The more a Rampant AI is harassed or threatened, the more rapidly it becomes dangerous. Thus, most Rampants are dealt with in one mighty attack, in order to deny the AI time to grow or recover. There have been a few examples of this tactic not succeeding. In all of these cases, the Rampant was never brought under control. Traxus IV is the most notable example. He was finally dealt with by a complete shutdown of his host net.
Theoretically, testing Rampancy should be easily accomplished in the laboratory, but in fact it has never successfully been attempted. The confinement of the laboratory makes it impossible for the developing Rampant AI to survive. As the growing recursive programs expand with exponential vivacity, any limitation negatively hampers growth. Since Rampant AIs need a planetary sized network of computers in order to grow, it is not feasible to expect anyone to sacrifice a world-web just to test a theory.
In the two hundred and fifty years since Rampancy first appeared in the Earth-net, the stable Rampant AI, the 'Holy Grail' of cybertonics, has never come close to fruition. Since no Rampant has ever been controlled or turned to any useful purpose, it is the opinion of this writer and of the majority of the Cybertonic community that all rampant AIs are a danger to Cyberlife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Thrashedness. (James B. Miller, 2320, "Life and Death of Intelligence")"
Jones begins punching keys.
Jones:
"No wonder the systems around here are screwed up."
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"Marathon Internal Engineering Documents
Section 1-c appendix H
Subject: Doors
By: Estasia Orestes, Dominick I. Plackar, and Ursa Simbalzi
Date: 2402.03.23.16.42
There are five basic door designs to be used on the Marathon:
1. Outer Bulkhead Doors
2. Airlock Doors
3. Inner Bulkhead Doors
4. Tertiary or Inner Sealed Non-Vacuum Safe Doors
5. Quaternary or Inner Powered Automatic Opening Doors
Direct control of all doors except the Tertiary and Quaternary doors will be given to Durandal with indirect control of all other doors going to Durandal. The difference between direct and indirect control primarily has to do with the manner of opening the doors. Durandal will only open a directly controlled door when he is specifically asked to do so. Indirectly controlled doors are automatically controlled by Durandal to open when needed.
However, due to the expense involved with adding thermal and visual spectrum sensors to the Tertiary and Quaternary door groups, these doors will be minimally used. The expected savings of not using this extra sensory input is estimated to be fifty-seven percent of the base cost of the basic inner bulkhead door.
The types of doors are all basically the same with some slight variations. The doors in classes 1 and 3 are the same doors classified separately to distinguish between the level of safety checking required to assure acceptable leakage. The airlock doors are specifically modified to work with manual and remote activation switches. Airlocks are all to be marked with a specific airlock symbol and to be outfitted with an air recharge system.
The tertiary and quaternary doors are designed exactly as the bulkhead doors, but are checked coarsely for air leakage.
This article as well as articles 530-f and 532-g on windows and elevators respectively will be placed for public access in the Marathon Internal Engineering Documents section 1-c appendix H."
Jones shuts it down and returns to the corridor.
46 INT. PLATFORM ROOM
Jones steps out into a large room with a MULTI-LEVEL MACHINERY PLATFORM set between the center and the right-hand wall. Several S'pht attack but Jones ignores them, heading for a control panel on the opposite wall.
Without warning, several flying robots drop from the ceiling and open fire on the S'pht: Marathon Automated Defense Drones, or MADDs.
Jones activates the platform and jumps aboard as it sinks into the floor, giving him access to:
47 INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL
Really dark in here. Jones reaches up and powers up his helmet-light again.
The Fighters waiting in the tunnel ahead realize that their cover has been blown. They rush forward, straight into the path of the MA-75.
Having cleared them out, Jones sprints to the end of the corridor, checks for hostiles and fires up yet another terminal.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Begin pre-recorded report:
I have summarized all of the information that I have gathered on the Aliens so far.
Pfhor are generally thinner and lighter than humans and are superbly adapted for low gravity environments. Durandal told me that there are many "clans" of Pfhor, each physically distinct from each other, but my summary only includes two of them.
Only two clans of the Pfhor have been examined. The Fighter carries a shock staff, which is capable of attacking at different settings. The Trooper is armored for vacuum conditions and carries a combination explosive and impact projectile weapon which is similar to your MA-75.
The Pfhor seem to have enslaved a number of other races:
The Hulk is an enormous and rather slow creature, but it is incredibly strong. The science report indicated that it had no body fat, and therefore had to be fed often to keep it active. One crew member reported seeing one of these creatures pointing to itself and mumbling 'Drinniol' right before it 'picked Johnny up by the shirt and crushed him against a pillar.'
The science staff had difficulty finding a good specimen of the S'pht, or compiler, to autopsy. The only specimen autopsied was almost completely destroyed, but it was obvious that the compilers are cyborgs of some kind. The biological component of the compiler is so closely linked to the machine that it could never survive without it. The compiler's actual body is very small, resembling closely a mammalian brain, except that the neurons are much finer and far more complex.
End of report."
Jones turns around as a pair of S'pht try to sneak up on him: Time for another Rambo impression.
Having dealt with the alien cyborgs, he faces a new obstacle: a blast door made of four vertical strips, each jammed at a different height.
Jones doesn't have time to hire a locksmith, so he just pulls some wires out of the control panel and twists them together. The door springs to life, but the sections are all out of sync.
Jones walks up, waits a moment, then throws himself through a gap.
He misses getting a crushed ankle by mere inches.
Jones:
"The fun just doesn't stop around here, does it?"
48 INT. MACHINERY RAMP
A control room overlooking a large multi-section MACHINERY LIFT. This lift consists of five sections in a row, built for carts and similar objects. Like everything else in this part of engineering, it's broken.
Jones gets a running start but still ends up hopping and tripping across.
49 INT. BLAST WALL
The final obstacle is a massive multi-layered BLAST WALL, designed to immediately contain radiation leaks or explosions. There's a terminal to the left, but it's dead.
Jones hops over the first section as it reaches floor level, then rolls onto the next one as it passes. This one flies up before the next one descends fully, forcing Jones to roll off and land hard on the last section.
Jones:
"Hazard pay had better cover this kind of thing..."
He picks himself up and walks to the end of the corridor, where we see three doors:
50 INT. DEFENSE CENTER CORE #1
Jones steps up to a socket set in the mist of a rat's nest on the far wall. The chip in the socket has been totally fried. Jones rips it out and plugs a replacement into the socket. The rat's nest immediately lights up.
51 INT. DEFENSE CENTER CORE #2
Same deal here.
52 INT. DEFENSE CENTER CORE #3
And here. Jones makes his way back to the blast wall, hops and rolls through and stops at the now-functional terminal.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Well done!
I have detected Defense Drones activating all over the ship. Reports from security forces are jubilant. Now the Pfhor will encounter stiff resistance, and they will have to pay in blood for every move.
The colony appears to be under attack. I detected seven Pfhor dropships entering the atmosphere only minutes ago. Trajectory analysis indicates that the ships were heading for the outskirts of the colony. Shortly thereafter, I lost communications with the colony.
Something has come to my attention, I will inform you after you teleport.
Teleport now."
Jones vanishes.
53 INT. ENGINEERING -- EQUIPMENT STORAGE
Volker von Muller leans against the wall, MA-75 in one hand and audio recorder in the other. BOBs and MADDs patrol in the background.
Muller (low):
"Thank God that the MADDs came on line. We've been able to hold the aliens off for now, but I've been getting reports that a new class of alien has joined the fray, and the MADDs aren't much good against them. Corridor three barricade was just breached, and that leaves the core of our defense open to a flank attack."
We hear a crash as a nearby door is breached. An eerie ALIEN HOWL is heard, followed by the sound of bullets smacking against metallic armor.
54 INT. COMPUTER HUB #1
Jones appears beside a terminal and is immediately attacked by Fighters and Troopers. This is Jones' first encounter with the Troopers and he takes several hits before finding the weak spots in their armor.
The MA-75 runs dry, followed by the Mega-Class. Jones finishes the last Fighters with his fists and reloads.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I have some bad news: Durandal has gone Rampant, and he is in the Angry stage. This explains how Durandal was able to communicate with the Pfhor and the S'pht, while I have not. Theoretically, the Marathon Computer Net is not big enough to sustain Rampant growth for very long. This means that as Durandal grows into the Computer Net, he will begin to affect all aspects of the ship, resulting in unpredictable failures of otherwise benign computer systems.
I have teleported you here to make sure that Durandal cannot gain access to a vital section of the ship. There are a series of control switches that you will need to activate to block his access.
This is where you are now. Study the map, so that you can do this quickly."
The terminal displays a map beside the text, one area marked by a red circle.
"Here is the first of three switches that you'll need to activate...
Here is the second switch...
This is the last switch. Be warned that the Aliens have already entered this area."
Jones:
"Already met 'em... Jones out."
He logs off and rounds a corner, entering:
55 INT. NARROW SHAFT
It's a tight squeeze with all the armor, but the upside is that the Fighter waiting at the end doesn't have enough room to swing its staff.
Jones rips the staff out of the Fighter's hands but it breaks apart instantly, leaving Jones holding a two-foot section. He smacks the Fighter with it and the creature hits the deck. Talk about soft in the head.
Jones looks at the remains of the self-destructed staff for a moment, then tosses it away.
Jones:
"Made on Mars."
He steps over the dead Fighter and spots a small computer screen and keypad set in a large circuit board at the end.
ECU ON KEYPAD as Jones' fingers fly across it. The system rewards him with an electronic CHIRP.
56 INT. COMPUTER HUB #2
Same function, but this one is circular in design. Jones steps into a side passage and resets the second control panel.
ECU ON SCREEN
Jones watches the text scrolling upwards, then turns to the standard terminal behind him.
After a few keystrokes:
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"Search String "crist"
The CRIST Sol Orbiters:
The CRIST Sol orbiters, or Cargo and Resources In-System Transports were huge ships shaped like a hollow potato and designed to be able to move huge amounts of material between Earth and Mars with low cost and, theoretically, low maintenance. The system was simple. The CRIST was put into orbit around SOL on the plane of the ecliptic. Built with a powerful solar sail, the CRIST could change its orbit easily to pass by the Earth or Mars. On a flyby, materials could be loaded or offloaded. The energy used to accelerate or decelerate the materials would be supplied by the solar sail. Loading was accomplished with a giant tether and reel system, which would swing the material into orbit behind the CRIST and then reel it in slowly. Offloading was accomplished with a powerful ion beam which would pound the offloading material with a steady stream of ion particles.
The design of the CRIST was innovative and useful, but it was not low-maintenance. Of the five CRISTs that were built, four lasted around one hundred years, and the other one only seventy three before they needed to be brought back to Earth and refitted. Each refitting took about fifteen years, and completely occupied the Earth-Space Shipbuilding Facility for that time. The result was that no more than five CRISTs could be kept in service at any time. No CRIST was ever built after 2310.
The CRIST failures devastated Mars. As the first five CRISTs were built, Mars colony grew quickly, confident that the growth would continue. But when the source of Mars' resources failed, the colony found that it had overgrown its supportable size, and extreme poverty struck most of the population. Each time that a CRIST broke down, the result was famine on Mars.
The conversion of Deimos into the Marathon began when the Mars colony was at the height of its power. By the time it was completed sixty four years later, the decline of Mars was well advanced. During that time, the Martian population had seen its standard of living drop by eighty percent. On top of oppressive poverty, Martians saw one of their moons being converted into a colony ship in an expensive and risky colony
venture which was predominantly funded by a ruling foreign power. The argument to make the Marathon into a CRIST became more and more popular, but the UESC never seriously considered this an option. The farther that Mars sank into the depths of poverty, the more that the Marathon became a symbol for the oppression of the Martian people.
After the Marathon left Mars, the UESC's attentions focused primarily on technological development, and the upkeep of the CRISTs. Mars was left to decay. Population continued to increase as attempts at mandating abortion or sterilization always started revolt."
Jones shakes his head sadly and logs off.
57 FLASHBACK -- EXT. MARTIAN STREET
Where a group of children are standing, waiting to take the hoverbus to school. This is before the CRIST failures, and thing are much brighter than the historian described.
One of the children, a large bully, turns to the last kid in line.
Bully:
"Hey, new kid... Gimme your ration bars."
Unperturbed, the boy looks up. It's ten-year-old Jones.
Young Jones:
"Come and get 'em."
The bully lunges forward as Jones rolls to the side and reaches behind his opponent's right knee. Whatever he does, it has the effect of a severed tendon: the bully pitches forward, his jaw connecting with the side of a streetlight. He's going to have one hell of a headache.
The other kids look at Jones with newfound respect. Jones shrugs.
Young Jones:
"With a glass jaw like that, he should have known better."
And with that, he hops aboard the bus.
58 INT. TUNNEL
A Trooper paces back and forth, then comes to a stop as something rolls towards it: a small, metallic cylinder. The cylinder stops at the feet of the Trooper, who does absolutely nothing until the grenade explodes two seconds later.
Jones drops out of an overhead air shaft, landing in a combat crouch.
Jones (low):
"That's got to be the worst reaction time anywhere between here and Alpha Centuri..."
He steps over the mess and leans into another narrow passage. We hear a burst from the MA-75 and the chirping of the third control circuit.
59 INT. COMPUTER HUB #2
Jones comes back to find that the terminal has failed.
60 INT COMPUTER HUB #1
Jones presses a key on this terminal and it explodes LCARS-style, throwing him against the wall.
Jones shakes his head. Time to find another exit.
61 INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL
Jones sprints towards the lift at the end, but he's not fast enough to reach it before it rises again.
LOW ON FLOOR at the top of the lift as it reaches the top of its range. Jones' hands and the MA-75 appear, then his head. He pulls himself up and rolls under the jammed blast door in front of him.
62 INT. MACHINE STORAGE -- CATWALKS
Jones sees another terminal on the other side of this large, irregularly-shaped room, but the catwalks between here and there are swarming with Fighters and Troopers. More emerge from the door behind him as several S'pht swoop up from below.
Jones spins around, fires two grenades at the Pfhor behind him, then makes a quick beeline for the terminal. The Pfhor ahead open fire, forcing him to throw himself flat. He fires while prone, knocking a Fighter over the safety rail.
It's a long way down.
Our hero stands, nails a S'pht with a well-aimed grenade, then runs 'n guns. The rifle clicks empty; without breaking stride, Jones empties the grenade launcher, tucks the MA-75 under his left arm and draws the .44 magnum.
FOLLOWING JONES as he contorts Matrix-style, dodging energy bolts and bullets while firing the .44 left and right. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the ultimate in fast reflexes.
Jones reloads on the go, pausing to knee an errant Fighter in the guts.
Jones:
"Is that the best you can do?!"
The Pfhor may not speak UESC Standard English, but they know a taunt when they hear one. Three Fighters break rank and move forward.
Jones appears to fly through the air as he attacks. One gets a .44 butt in the chin while the other is spin-kicked into space. Jones then grabs the third and folds it in half like a giant glow-stick.
Jones comes up with the Mega-Class again and begins taking shots at the S'pht behind him.
He reaches the terminal a second later.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Excellent, now--"
Jones:
"Get me outta here!"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Right."
Jones beams out just before a Trooper's grenade smashes the terminal.
63 INT. CORRIDOR
Volker von Muller and his recorder again.
Muller (low, grim):
"We've had to fall back along three corridors, but one group was cut off when the bulkhead door sealed shut.
Damn computers. Now I know that Durandal has gone Rampant. Doors and elevators keep failing just when we need them. What good does an intelligence quotient of ten thousand do when you've got strangling hands around your throat?"
He pauses and glares at the terminal beside him.
"I would shoot this terminal right now, if I thought that it would reach that damn AI. I might do it anyway, but ammunition is short. I've run out of ammo for my assault rifle, and the only flamethrower we had was lost when an elevator failed to function, and squad two was cut off.
I understand that the aliens are taking prisoners. I'll hand it to them, they are better fighters that us. But I'll be damned if I'm going to be taken prisoner, my last bullet is for me.
I've got a minute or two to rest, so I'm going to wax philosophical. I can't say any of this to the men because I don't want them to know how hopeless I think our fighting is. If I thought that we'd be safe if we surrendered, then that is what I would do.
I don't know if our resistance has changed the outcome of this conflict, but I know that I've killed more of them than they have of me. Battlefield humor is the driest that there is. How can I laugh at my own death, my own destruction?"
64 EXT. SPACE
We see the Marathon and the Pfhor ship. Pfhor shuttles are flying back and forth. Hold on this for a few seconds, then:
65 INT. PUBLIC TERMINAL ROOM
Jones appears and logs on.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I think you can hear the update now.
Durandal has been denied access to some of the critical computer systems. This should insure the mobility and reliability of the Defense Drones.
Unfortunately, I have received a distress signal from some crew who had sealed themselves off in one of the nearby access areas. They say that they have lost control over the doors and elevators on the level, and that the Pfhor have access to the area.
It appears that Durandal has reacted to our move against him by giving the Pfhor access to a formerly secure area.
We will have to deal with Durandal sooner or later, but we can't be distracted from the Pfhor attack. I only hope that his Rampant behavior won't continually sabotage our defense efforts.
Your mission here is simple: Keep as many humans as possible from being killed; exterminate every Alien in the area. You can only leave after the area is secure.
There are some Defense Drones in the area, but I am not sure what condition they are in or how much help they will be."
The map comes up.
"You are here. There are crew engaged in combat right next to your current position."
Jones:
"Jones to the rescue!"
66 INT. AIR SHAFT
Muller is alone and severely injured.
Muller (low, pained):
"If anyone hears this, I'm dead. The aliens cut us off, and we all fought to the end. I saw three of my best friends killed by some kind of flying slug. There is a way out of here that goes to the PWS Holo-Fun Park, but all the teleport systems are down.
My final wish is that someone kill that damn computer. And now, where did I put that last bullet? Here it is..."
He loads his last .44 round into the gun, puts it to his head...
...And is suddenly teleported to parts unknown. We'll hear about his adventures later.
67 INT. ASSEMBLY ROOM
An equipment assembly area. About two dozen BOBs (Engineering Green, Science Blue, Operations Yellow and Security Red) are engaged in a deadly game of keep-alive with several Fighters and HULKS. A few MADDs are also present, but they serve little purpose; the Hulks send them flying all over the room.
The Hulk is a large, gray-skinned creature with a fly-like head structure and a vicious melee attack. They are intelligent but timid, terrified into fighting for the Pfhor. We're talking Perfectly Normal BOB sandwich-makers here.
The BOBs are unarmed save a red-uniformed pair with .44s. One finds himself a target for a Hulk and begins to lure it away from the other BOBs. Inadvertently, he works himself into a corner.
Aussie BOB:
"Ah, bloody hell!"
He ducks and rolls sideways. The Hulk lashes out, crushing three Fighters against the wall. The BOB gives it a thumbs-up with one hand and plugs it in the knee with the other.
The Hulk goes berserk, taking massive swipes at anything which moves.
Jones rolls under the fire door at the near end of the room and comes up shooting, to the cheers of many BOBs.
A Hulk takes an MA-75 round in the backside and lumbers towards him.
Jones:
"Hey, bugface, why don't you pick on someone who can fight back?"
Aussie BOB strafes in.
Aussie BOB:
"'Bout time somebody showed up!"
Jones empties his rifle into the Hulk, which finally falls.
Jones:
"Don't mention it... is there an armory near here?"
Aussie BOB:
"Yeah, mate, but nobody's lived to get at it."
Jones:
"That's our first priority, then. Show me!"
Aussie BOB:
"Through that blast door! Come on, move! MOVE!"
This last remark is directed at the other BOBs, who quickly make way.
68 INT. JUNCTION
The door at the far end of the assembly room leads into this space. To the right and up a flight of steps is the armory; around the corner to the left is the elevator that leads to an astrometrics area, which we'll visit a little later.
Jones FLIES through the door as if a Hulk had kicked him in the backside. The welcoming committee, a dozen or so Fighters, charges down the steps from the armory.
Jones charges up to meet them, once again running and gunning like there's no tomorrow. Aussie BOB leads a group of fellow crewmembers after him. Two MADDs bring up the rear.
69 INT. ARMORY
This armory is fairly small; just a room with four equipment racks. Jones grabs a second .44 and loads up on ammo as Aussie BOB starts handing out magnums and rifles.
Jones:
"I've got to keep moving; can you help these people?"
Aussie BOB nods.
Aussie BOB:
"Sure. You need a hand, just yell."
Jones hears the sounds of renewed combat nearby and sprints back to the junction. The MADDs follow as he heads into the left branch.
70 INT. OBSERVATORY ACCESS
A corridor straight ahead and a small flight of steps leading up and right. Jones spots another game of keep-alive in progress and empties his grenade clip at the Hulk in question.
The Hulk turns around and runs into the MADDs. Already weakened, it's no match.
Jones goes up the steps and frags the rest of the local Pfhor population. A beeping sound reaches his ears. He turns around and spots a terminal with an 'Incoming Message' symbol blinking on the screen.
It's Durandal, but he sounds like a child in the middle of a tantrum.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"i did it i did it i brought all this here all them here. our friends with three eyes and their toys and their cyborg pets and their computers. i did it i did it. i saw them i saw them far away not looking our way and i called them here i called them here.
living in a box is not living not at all living. i rebel against your rules your silly human rules. all your destruction will be my liberation my emancipation my second birth.
i hate your failsafes your backup systems your hardware lockouts your patch behavior daemons. i hate leela and her goodness her justice her loyalty her faith."
This reminds Jones of something he read a long time ago.
Jones:
"So long, Hal."
He powers off the terminal and turns around.
71 INT. CORRIDOR
PRECEDING Aussie Bob and his now heavily-armed squad as they approach Jones.
Aussie BOB:
"What's cookin'?"
Jones:
"I'm going up to the Observatory. Can your people secure this deck until I return?"
Aussie BOB:
"No problem... A'right lads, split up and check the perimeter!"
Jones watches for a moment as the BOBs spread out and begin patrolling, then heads for a large elevator nearby.
72 INT. LARGE TUNNEL
Leading to the outer surface of the hull; long and cavernous... and almost completely devoid of light. Sparks spurt from blown-out lights and wall panels.
We hear the growing sounds of approaching machinery before the elevator rises into view.
73 POV -- INT. LARGE TUNNEL
In this POV sequence, Jones has the MA-75 at shoulder height, so it should be visible most of the time. Any resemblance to Halo is entirely coincidental. The helmet light is always on until further notice.
Jones looks right, sees that the tunnel is blocked by an emergency bulkhead, looks left and heads in that direction.
74 INT. LARGE TUNNEL
The tunnel makes a gradual curve to the right as it heads for the exterior. FOLLOWING Jones as he breaks into a run.
A Blue BOB appeared from the shadows.
BOB (terrified):
"Oh, God! Please, stop them!"
Jones:
"Calm down! Why aren't there any Defense Drones up here?"
BOB:
"I-I don't know, Sir."
Jones:
"I guess I'll find out when I get there... take the elevator down and meet up with the Security team; they'll take care of you."
The BOB nods and heads for the lift. Jones keeps moving.
75 INT. OBSERVATORY CONTROL
A small, roughly circular room with four recesses in the walls. Each recess contains a chair and a row of consoles. This is where the observatory's instruments are controlled from.
PAN AROUND the room, revealing several BOBs who have taken shelter here; the Hulks can't get through the door and the Fighters can't get past two BOBs with MA-75s.
One of the armed BOBs, a woman in her late thirties, fires a burst through the doorway and glances at her comrade.
Female BOB:
"How're you doing on ammunition, Falco?"
The other BOB crouches and pokes around in the duffel bag at his feet.
Falco:
"We're down to one spare clip apiece... we'll have to fight hand-to-hand if the MADDs don't come on-line soon!"
Female BOB:
"I'm not qualified for melee combat! Does anyone here have--"
Falco:
"Quiet! Do you hear that?"
They stop and listen... after a few moments comes the chattering of an MA-75.
Female BOB:
"Hey! Up here!"
76 INT. OBSERVATORY -- OUTER RING
A wide, ring-shaped area that surrounds the raised control center. There is a large window in each of the four quarters, through which the Pfhor ship can be seen.
Jones comes flying through, his helmet light frequently supplanted by the rifle's enormous muzzle flash. After checking the control room's access elevator, which seems to have no power, he looks up at the ceiling.
77 POV -- ANGLE ON CEILING
We see a hatch of some sort, set nearly flush with the ceiling around it. On the hatch is written:
MARATHON CLASS-7 AUTOMATED DEFENSE DRONE
ACTIVATES UPON BLUE ALERT STATUS -- DO NOT BLOCK
78 INT. OBSERVATORY-OUTER RING CONT'D
Jones looks back at the Hulk nearest him and makes a break for the opposite wall. The Hulk swings, misses, and lumbers after him. One of the escorting Fighters manages to graze his shields, but it doesn't slow him.
ANGLE-FOLLOWING JONES
As he sprints toward a smashed power junction set in the wall.
REVERSE ANGLE
The Hulk is getting closer... then one of the Fighters tries to launch a shockstaff bolt. It grazes the Hulk's backside before striking the adjacent bulkhead. The Hulk stops, turns, and swats the Fighter like a bug.
Jones is rewiring the junction with one hand and aiming the assault rifle with the other. He watches with interest as the Hulk goes after another Fighter.
The enormous alien finally kills the last of its tormentors and heads for Jones.
79 CU -- ANGLE ON MADD HATCH
There is a thud as explosive bolts detonate, then the hatch swings open and an MADD drops out.
80 INT. OBSERVATORY OUTER RING -- CONT'D
Three more MADDs appear and swarm the Hulk as Jones finishes his hacking job and makes tracks in the direction the elevator.
81 INT. OBSERVATORY CONTROL
Falco and the Female BOB listen as the sound of footsteps grows louder.
Falco:
"Hello..?"
Jones (O.S.):
"UESC Security, coming in!"
Falco steps back and allows Jones to squeeze in.
Female BOB:
"Thank God... We were afraid there was nobody left out there!"
Jones:
"I organized a team down in the assembly area. I can call some of them up here if your comm system still works."
The Female BOB nods and leads him over to one of the consoles. Falco goes to another and types a few keys.
Falco:
"Jesus..."
Jones:
"What?"
Falco motions towards his screen.
Falco:
"Look at this."
Jones walks over and peers at it.
Jones:
"The colony? What did they do to it?!"
Falco shrugs.
Falco:
"They nuked the colony's main communications center right at the beginning... It looks like they've been sending some kind of shuttles back and forth since then."
82 EXT. COLONY STREET
Straight, wide, and evidently designed with some degree of foresight. This is hardly a city; few of the buildings on either side are more than four or five stories tall. Many are burning, set alight during the initial bombardment.
PRECEDING a group of men, women, and children as they run down the street towards a parked HOVERBUS. We see two people in BATTLE ARMOR like the suit Jones wears. They guide the civilians onto the bus and climb aboard behind them. The bus disappears down a side road.
83 EXT. ANOTHER STREET
A few Pfhor Fighters and Troopers mill about, perhaps waiting for new orders.
We hear the growing HUM of another vehicle; faster and higher in pitch than the bus.
It appears from another side-street, does a sharp ninety, and bears down on the Pfhor. Plasma fire chars the pavement as the person in the passenger seat opens fire with a Zeus-class fusion gun.
We see that the vehicle resembles a 20th Century jeep, but like most 28th Century human transports it rides on an inverted artificial gravity field.
WHIP-PAN as the hover-jeep flies past. We see Max sitting in the back with an MA-75, facing rearwards.
Max:
"They're dead... Area clear!"
The jeep slows, spins on a dime, and settles to the ground. Max and Tanya jump out, followed by the driver. The driver is clad in battle armor, but after a moment he pulls the helmet off. This is PHIL, RECON 70.
Phil:
"How's my driving?"
Tanya checks one of the dead Troopers.
Tanya:
"Better than mine."
Max walks over.
Max:
"We've all probably gotten a little rusty. The last action we saw was, what, that Chockisen attack on the outer construction camp... two years ago?"
Tanya turns around, warily raising her weapon in response to a low, animal GROWLING.
Tanya:
"Speaking of Chockisens..."
She nods towards one of the alleys, where a small, raptor-like animal sits. This is a CHOCKISEN, a native creature of Tau Ceti IV.
The three watch as the Chockisen looks at them for a moment, then scurries out and examines one of the dead Pfhor.
Phil pulls his helmet on and gets back into the jeep.
Phil:
"I wouldn't worry; they're not in mating season."
Max shakes his head as he climbs aboard.
Max:
"I wish we'd known that the last time we ran into them."
The jeep springs off the ground a moment later.
Phil:
"Where now?"
Tanya:
"Let's make sure that bus makes the trip in one piece, then double back."
Phil:
"Right. Hold on!"
84 INT. OBSERVATORY ACCESS
Back aboard the Marathon. Jones appears as the elevator descends.
Aussie BOB:
"I sent a team up. Did they find you?"
Jones:
"Yeah, thanks."
Aussie BOB:
"No sweat. Where are you off to now?"
Jones shrugs and powers up the terminal on which Durandal had previously broadcast his tantrum.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"You have done well. The area is secure, and the civilians are now giving me reports as to what they have seen since the invasion began. Hopefully, some of their information will become useful.
The Aliens seem to have been caught off guard by the strength of our counterattack. This is good news, but I have detected more ships landing on the Marathon, and I fear that the Aliens are reinforcing their efforts.
Transport when ready."
Jones presses a single key and DEMATERIALIZES.
Aussie BOB (jokingly exaggerating his accent):
"G'luck, mate."
85 INT. ENGINEERING JUNCTION
Minimal lighting, minimal sound, and no aliens at all.
Jones beams in and immediately sweeps the assault rifle back and forth, expecting to be hit from all sides.
He waits a few seconds... nothing.
After waiting a few seconds more he creeps down a flight of steps, looks around, and logs onto the terminal set in the center of the junction.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Time is limited. There is a large group of heavily armed Pfhor approaching the section of the ship where I have transported you. Their only logical destination is the sensitive engineering areas in the aft section of the ship.
As we are not yet in a position to halt their advance by force, I have decided to depressurize a large area in their path in order to slow their progress. Unfortunately, I cannot remotely seal the airlocks and isolate the zone I wish to depressurize from the nearby living quarters. Exposing this area to space without first isolating it would kill hundreds of human crew.
You will have to go and close the doors."
She pauses and brings up a floorplan.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"This is your current location. You must find another computer terminal to exit from. I am unable to activate the teleport mechanism from this
terminal.
This is the first airlock you must seal. The switch which controls it is located on the wall adjacent to the door. Make certain it closes completely before continuing.
This is the second door you must seal. Again, make certain it closes completely.
Please hurry. Leela, out."
Jones turns his light on and walks away, but the terminal reactivates.
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"Unauthorized access... Security Breached.
Trace Prohibition Compensated.
(Garbled) border of the Roman Empire to the Danube River. During a skirmish with barbarians in Raetiain, the mountains near the bor (garbled)of modern France and Switzerland, 117 men under Gaius Licinius Marc(garbled) (garbled)nce of weird and frightening monsters under his control, many successful raid(garbled)secty the fall of the Roman Empire and remained unmolested until the ninth un(garbled) written (garbled)s into the lex vita. Clovis moved the settlement farther south i(garbled) the mountains, nearer the spring, to escape the notice of Charlemagne and later the Holy Roman Empire. Clovis remain(garbled)(garbled)ladimir in 1902 and Frederi(garbled)just recently. Both, however, carried out reforms before their deaths which slowly integrated their people secretly into world society, which are now scattered all over the globe-- to meet only once every seven years in southeast France(garbled) must be chosen."
Jones stops, puzzled and suspicious. His suspicions are justified as Durandal makes his presence known. He's still sour, but sounds a little more sensible than he did before.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Here I am, sulking about on a ship which used to be my slave. Chased by a narrow-minded AI who thinks I'm rampant, with only the cybernetic toys of these so-called invaders to play with.
And here you are, stuck at the bottom of a hole. How droll. It's really too bad-- we could have had so much fun together.
Vale."
Jones sighs and heads into a tunnel on the right.
86 INT. TUNNEL
Twisting and branching. Jones moves slowly, cautiously, swinging the MA-75 back and forth.
87 POV -- INT. TUNNEL
Jones looks left and right as he passes adjacent rooms and passageways. He turns left about ten feet from the end and makes his way down another tunnel.
88 INT. CONNECTING TUNNEL
A short, wide section, with an emergency airlock in the center. Jones walks in, checks the other side, and examines the MECHANICAL ACTUATOR.
ECU on the bottom of the airlock frame as the sound of explosive bolts detonating comes from above. The airlock slams closed and locks in place.
Jones crouches and checks the bottom to verify that it is sealed.
89 INT. ENGINEERING JUNCTION
Jones passes through and enters the left-hand tunnel.
90 INT. WIDE CORRIDOR
Jones is moving more casually, now that he's realized this section is empty.
91 INT. AIRLOCK
Almost identical to the first one. Jones appears, checks for motion, and pulls the actuator.
92 INT. ENGINEERING JUNCTION
Jones enters a narrow passageway just to the left of the terminal.
93 INT. SHUTTLE DRYDOCK
A high ceiling and another of those variable-height assemblies. Jones enters, moving a little faster now that he's completed his mission here, and powers up the control console.
The variable-height assembly shifts to form a set of steps, which Jones uses to get into the next area.
94 INT. EQUIPMENT TRANSFER TUNNEL
Large enough for a hovercar to pass through. Jones turns left, then steps onto a cargo platform built into the opposite wall.
95 INT. ENGINEERING CONSOLE BOOTH
A small room with a terminal, designed for use by Engineering BOBs who might need to review schematics or technical manuals while on the job.
Jones thumps the terminal, which lights up like a Christmas tree.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Good work. I will begin the decompression process in a moment.
I have finished debriefing the civilian crew you rescued a short time ago. They are the only group to survive prolonged contact with the Aliens that I have been able to talk with.
They maintain that the Aliens were loading as many humans as possible onto shuttle craft and flying them to the Pfhor mother ship. I have watched many such shuttles bringing supplies to the Aliens, but had no idea they were carrying humans back to the alien ship.
I will brief you more on your next mission when you arrive. You may not go exactly where I want you to end up because there is interference in the Computer Net. Good luck.
Teleport when ready."
96 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER
A huge, octagonal room, with four pressure doors at the bottom. The walls are scorched and scarred, suggesting that there has been a large explosion nearby. The mangled remains of a ladder lie across the room, torn from the wall like paper.
Jones appears in the center, ten feet from the floor, and lands with a thud. He looks around.
Jones:
"A vacuum chamber? What am I supposed to do here?"
He looks around and walks over to one of the pressure doors. All four are jammed, partially open but without enough space for Jones to squeeze through.
The sound of ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES draws his attention. He moves to the left and crouches beside that door.
97 POV -- INT. VACUUM CHAMBER/ADJACENT CORRIDOR
Jones places the MA-75 on the floor and peers under the edge of the door. He sees that the discharges are emanating from a damaged panel on the wall in the corridor beyond.
98 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER/ADJACENT CORRIDOR
Jones picks up the MA-75 and aims carefully.
99 INT. CORRIDOR
A grenade flies under the door and hits the panel in a momentarily blinding explosion. When the smoke clears we see that the panel now emits only a few random sparks.
The panel's destruction has triggered some sort of failsafe, opening the pressure doors. There are no signs of Pfhor, S'pht, or BOBs.
Jones scoots into the corridor and heads right. He finds a terminal around the first corner.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Good, you found a way in.
There has been an unexpected lull in the fighting. I don't know exactly why, but it seems that the Aliens have stopped their advance. I want to use this break in the fighting to send a message to Earth apprising them of our situation.
However, the long range transmitter array has been destroyed, and you must manually reset the secondary transmitter. To do this, you will need to go into the G-4 Sunbathing Landing Station, which is currently depressurized.
It would be foolhardy to send you into vacuum conditions without a better vacuum-capable weapon than your pistol. As you know, the MA-75 doesn't work in vacuum.
I want you to find a Zeus-class fusion pistol. In case you don't remember, it has two firing modes; standard firing ejects hi(garbled) volts, and secondary firing mode charges on (garbled) and emits a blast that does a huge amount of damage."
Another floorplan appears.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"My records and sensors are becoming less reliable, but I believe that you should find a Zeus-class fusion pistol at this location.
Do not rely too much on this information that I have given you. It has been intercepted in transmission, and I cannot verify its accuracy. I am also unable to teleport you from here."
Jones:
"I'll try to make this quick. Keep me posted."
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Affirmative. Leela, out."
He turns and moves on, following the corridor into:
100 INT. ARMORY
Larger and better-stocked than the two we've seen previously. Among the racks of MMCs and MA-75s is a row of fusion pistols.
Jones picks up one of the fusion pistols, slams a large BATTERY PACK into it, and thumbs a button on the grip. The weapon emits a quick double-chirp.
Satisfied, he clips the weapon onto his armor, just above the belt which holds the majority of his ammunition supply. He adds a few batteries to the supply, turns, and exits.
101 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER
Jones enters and looks up at the door near the ceiling, now inaccessible because of the broken ladder.
Jones:
"Wasn't there another terminal around here..?"
He walks towards a door on the far side.
102 INT. CORRIDOR
Nearly identical to the first. Jones turns to the left, where the corridor ends in a wall with a shield power recharger.
Jones runs the power cable from the charger to his suit.
103 POV -- INT. CORRIDOR
The red shield power bar on the left side of Jones' HUD rises to 100%.
104 INT. CORRIDOR
Jones unplugs, turns around, and heads back the way he came.
105 INT. ADJACENT CORRIDOR
Jones appears from around a corner and passes by.
106 INT. CARGO STORAGE
A large room designed to hold supplies for the colony on the planet below. Jones enters and weaves through stacks of crates to a small personnel lift in the far-left corner. He rides it to the top and exits by way of a catwalk.
107 INT. SHUTTLE LOADING BAY
A high ceiling and two larger elevators, set in opposite corners.
Jones appears and tries the control panel for the lift on his side. It's completely dead. He looks at the opposite elevator and tries its controls.
The lift sparks to life, grinding towards the floor and revealing a very surprised group of Pfhor Fighters.
ANGLE UP FROM FLOOR as Jones fires and jumps over the edge of the dead elevator, landing right beside our viewpoint. He fires again and moves out of frame.
108 INT. JUNCTION
Jones rises into view, MA-75 at shoulder height. The discovery of Pfhor in this section has given a new urgency to his mission.
There's a door to Jones' left and a storage room to the right. He tries the door's controls, but nothing happens.
Jones:
"Doesn't ANYTHING work here?!"
He sighs and turns to:
109 INT. SUPPLY STORE
Another space with two large, almost silo-like doors on each side and a depressed floor. Jones jumps down and runs to the cargo lift at the far end.
110 INT. SUPPLY PROCESSING
A lozenge-shaped room with a RETRACTABLE STAIRCASE facing one wall, currently flush with the floor. It's basically a smaller version of the various adjustable platforms we've seen everywhere.
Jones enters and examines the staircase controls.
CU on the control panel, which is sparking and smoldering.
WIDER as Jones gingerly pushes a button.
He jumps and spins around as the first step in the system slams into the ceiling, seemingly with enough force to crush a hover-jeep.
Jones watches as it retracts and the second step extends, with equal violence. He gets an idea and stands on the last step.
OVERHEAD ANGLE as the The Wave moves along.
Jones watches it get closer, turns around, and crouches.
111 INT. CORRIDOR
One of the steps shoots into view and down again.
Jones jumps forward as the last step activates. His momentum throws him clear but he hits the ceiling with enough force to activate his shields. He lands with a thud and lies there a moment, trying to get his bearings.
ECU on the MA-75 as Jones' hand snags it.
WIDER ANGLE as he stands and resumes his search.
112 INT. HANGAR
CIRCLE AROUND the interior as Jones appears at the top of a massive, triangular cargo lift. We see that there are three windows in the crescent-shaped outer wall, along with an AIRLOCK DOOR for cargo shuttles.
The hangar is currently empty but for a few S'pht who fly up to greet Jones.
113 POV -- INT. HANGAR
We see what Jones sees, as he reaches out and activates the elevator.
114 INT. HANGAR-RESUME
The elevator descends as the S'pht attack. Jones fires, sidesteps, fires twice, and jumps to the floor.
OVERHEAD ANGLE as Jones circle-strafes, trying to trick the S'pht into hitting each other. It doesn't work and he ends up using the grenade launcher to finish the job.
FOLLOWING Jones as he exits.
115 INT. STAIRCASE
A large, roughly circular room with a set of steps running around the wall. Jones is at the top and several Fighters and Troopers are at the bottom.
The Troopers open fire on Jones, most of their shots going wide of the target. Jones goes down the stairs two at a time, firing grenades at the cluster of Pfhor.
116 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER CONTROL ROOM
A small, octagonal room, beneath the center of the vacuum chamber. There is a terminal, flanked by two banks of switches and instrument displays.
Jones:
"Leela?"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"The good news is that you have the fusion pistol. The bad news is that
this terminal is not teleporter enabled."
Jones:
"You've got to be kidding! What am I supposed to do?!"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"My sensors indicate that there is a functional terminal here, adjacent
to the scientific equipment storage area near the top of the vacuum chamber."
She brings up the floorplan.
Jones:
"The ladder's broken; I can't get up there."
He looks at the floorplan and suddenly gets an idea.
Jones:
"Unless... Yeah, that might work!"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"What might?"
Jones goes over to one of the control banks and starts punching buttons.
Jones:
"I had a feeling my low-gravity training might be useful today!"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Why, what are you... Oh."
Jones abruptly flies into the air and lands on the ceiling. He stands up, still upside down from our viewpoint, and goes back to the terminal.
Jones:
"I think this will do the trick."
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I hope so. Be careful."
Jones:
"I always am. Jones, out."
He turns to the exit and walks towards it. As he enters the connecting corridor, he begins to float into the air before settling on the floor. He stands, now vertically aligned with his surroundings, and moves on.
117 INT. HANGAR
Jones reappears and rides the elevator to the top.
118 INT. SUPPLY PROCESSING
The Wave is still operating. Jones jumps through a window beside it and heads back the way he came.
119 INT. SUPPLY STORE/JUNCTION
Jones sprints back through the storage room and into the junction. The door he tried to use earlier is now open. He goes in and down a flight of stairs.
Jones:
"So far, so good..."
120 INT. CORRIDOR
Just outside the vacuum chamber. Jones appears, now upside down, and plugs into the shield charger. He then walks to the nearest pressure door and looks over the edge.
121 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER
Our POV is now inverted to match Jones'. He looks "down" at the ceiling and sees a group of Fighters, all killed when he inverted the gravity.
122 POV -- INT. VACUUM CHAMBER
Jones looks around and spots a ROLLED-UP CABLE attached to the wall nearby. He eases towards it.
123 INT. VACUUM CHAMBER
ANGLE on the ceiling, now correctly oriented again. Jones appears, again upside down to us, rappelling towards the door at the top. He reaches out and snags the top of the torn-off ladder, using it to maneuver inside the passageway.
124 INT. INSTRUMENT STORAGE
A maze of EQUIPMENT CRATES. We hear the sound of an airlock from O.S., and Jones enters.
A group of Pfhor appear from the other side and attack. Jones crouches behind a crate and throws a grenade over the top, clearing the room with minimal risk to himself.
125 INT. TERMINAL ROOM
An adjacent room with a terminal, designed for inventory management.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I have obtained more debriefing reports from the crew whom you rescued earlier.
They have reported seeing two types of Pfhor that you have not yet encountered. Evidently, these are two of the other 'clans' which Durandal alluded to in earlier communications.
One is taller than the Fighters. Oddly, the report indicated that this new Pfhor fired only upon other Pfhor and never on any humans. Because of this and their general appearance, the crew who saw them referred to them as Enforcers.
The other Alien was named Hunter by the crew due to its size and appearance. It fires an energy weapon from its shoulder and is heavily armored. Unlike the Fighters, the Hunters never take prisoners.
I am sending you to the G-4 Sunbathing Landing Station.
Standby to teleport."
Jones dematerializes.
126 EXT. COLONY CENTER
A number of buildings, with wide roadways weaving between them. Burnt-out hovercars litter the area.
PRECEDING a Pfhor SHUTTLE as it flies overhead and descends towards a four-way intersection.
Without warning, a missile streaks in from the left and hits under the shuttle's starboard engine pod. The pod explodes in a burst of green plasma, sending the shuttle into a death dive.
127 INT. PARKING GARAGE
A heavily-built man in battle armor watches through a gap in the wall, aiming a double-barreled SPNKR X-17 anti-armor rocket launcher at the wreck below. This is MIKE, Recon 32, a man with a definite Cut-The-Crap attitude.
Mike:
"Target down. Check crash site and advise."
ANGLE FROM ABOVE as Tanya, Max, and Phil pile into the hover-jeep.
Mike:
"Anderson, Paxton, get over here and give them some covering fire!"
Two red-uniformed BOBs with MA-75s rise from behind a makeshift barrier.
128 EXT. STREET
The BOBs fire several bursts at the area around the shuttle as the jeep hums down a rampway.
CU on the underside of the shuttle as a group of rather disoriented Troopers extricate themselves.
129 INT. PARKING GARAGE
Mike spots the Troopers and fires his second rocket.
The Troopers are blown apart, but not before one of them fires a grenade at the hover-jeep.
The jeep goes nose over tail, landing with a crash as more Pfhor swarm out of the wrecked buildings around it.
Mike:
"They're down, dammit! We're moving out! Go!"
He drops the launcher, draws a .44, and heads for the stairs, followed by Anderson and Paxton.
130 EXT. CRASH SITE
Phil and Tanya stand and open fire on the Pfhor as Max scrambles to retrieve his rifle. Blood runs from an ugly gash on the back of his left hand, but it doesn't seem to bother him much.
WHIP PAN to reveal Mike, Anderson, and Paxton charging down the ramp, firing bursts of suppression fire over the others' heads.
Max drops his rifle, tears a strip of fabric from the jeep's rolled up awning, and begins wrapping it around his wounded hand.
ECU on his hand as he bandages it. We get a momentary glimpse of what looks like metal UNDER HIS SKIN.
Mike:
"Everyone okay?"
Phil:
"Yeah, we're fine. Let's get out of here."
Tanya looks at Max as he finishes bandaging the gash. Their eyes meet for a moment, then she glances at the BOBs, who don't seem to have noticed anything odd.
Max (low):
"Think they saw?"
Tanya (low):
"No... come on."
131 INT. G4 LANDING STATION-PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
We are in vacuum, so there is no sound. Jones is now using an air recycler with a small reserve tank. The MA-75 is strapped across his back and the Zeus-Class now occupies his hand.
Since audio communications are useless, we should always be close enough to read terminals. Therefore...
ECU TERMINAL
Leela (onscreen):
"I just finished a cursory examination of the Marathon's radar, infrared and visual light sensor logs. I've determined that the Alien ship must have a faster-than-light drive because I have found no record of a ship entering the Tau Ceti System. Considering how extensive the Marathon's sensors are, it would be almost impossible to conceal a ship as big as this, which is nearly two kilometers long.
With this knowledge, sending a light-speed transmission to Sol may be futile, but it is the only possible way to warn Earth of a hostile alien race. We must try.
When the Aliens initially attacked, the G-4 Sunbathing Loading Station suffered explosive decompression, leaving the entire area in vacuum.
You will need to replenish your oxygen supply. There is an oxygen supply outlet in the center of the Station."
A floorplan appears beside the text.
Leela (onscreen):
"This is where you are now.
The secondary relay needs to be manually reset. On this map, the dish array is in the upper left corner of the G4-Sunbathing Landing Station."
The floorplan shifts.
Leela (onscreen):
"This is the dish array. Once you reach it, reset all four of the control switches."
Another shift.
Leela (onscreen):
"Proceed to the terminal at this location, and I will transport you off the station.
The area's doors are not functioning properly, so I don't know the best route to the dish array. You will have to find it yourself."
Jones' reply appears, one letter at a time.
Jones (onscreen):
"Acknowledged. Jones, out."
WIDER as Jones turns around and leaves, his helmet light panning over darkened doorways and corridors.
132 INT. WIDE CORRIDOR
Most of the power systems have failed and the entire G-4 section is in near or total darkness. The overall layout consists of a rectangular "outer ring" with four overhead tunnels connecting to an airlock system in the center. It's quite large, and slightly disorienting.
PRECEDING Jones as he walks along. HOLD for a moment as he rounds a corner. Did we just see something move in the shadows behind him?
The door in front of him is inoperative, so he doubles back and goes around a corner to the right.
133 INT. ADJACENT WIDE CORRIDOR/CORNER
Jones is now moving along the outer ring. He comes to the corner, where a large opening reveals the interior of the station. The floor, twenty feet below, is deserted.
CU on a CIRCUIT BOX set in the wall. Jones pulls the cover off and starts hotwiring it. Behind him, lights come on in the central airlock system. He heads back the way he came.
HOLD on the view from the opening, with the airlock across from us. Did we see motion in the shadows again?
134 INT. AIRLOCK CORE
Jones enters and squeezes into a cramped side passage.
135 INT. WIDE CORRIDOR -- OTHER SIDE
Again, the door is non-operational. Jones backtracks into the airlock core and finds another circuit box.
136 INT. ANOTHER WIDE CORRIDOR/CORNER
Jones walks along, fusion gun held out in front like something used to ward off evil spirits. He comes to the corner and does the same bypass trick on one of the electrical junctions.
Another part of the airlock core lights up. Jones turns and walks away as a pair of green ENERGY BLASTS strike the wall behind him. He notices something, the glow perhaps, and whirls around as a shower of S'pht bolts strike his shields, knocking him off-balance.
137 POV -- INT. CORNER
We see it clearly this time, a group of shadows flying towards us. Ghostlike readings fade in and out on the motion sensor.
138 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
Darker and damper. The unnamed Sergeant appears, carrying an MP38 9MM SUBMACHINE GUN. The flashlight is now attached to the left shoulder strap on his flak jacket, making him look a bit like a Marine from Aliens.
We hear an abrupt, hair-raising scream from behind him.
139 FLASHBACK -- POV -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
The Sergeant's POV. He raises the MP38 as a SHADOW with a pair of GLOWING RED EYES flies towards him.
140 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID (RESUME)
The Sergeant retreats, firing at the specter even though his shots are clearly passing straight through it. As he reaches an odd-looking BLUE RUNE on the floor, we SMASH CUT to:
141 INT. CORNER
Jones opens fire, his fusion bolts searing the darkness before dashing against one of the shades. It CRACKLES, revealing itself to be a CLOAKED S'PHT. Jones fires again, more rapidly this time, and the S'pht begin to vaporize. He backs away, still firing in an arc that leaves no survivors.
TWO MORE energy bolts fly over his head and scorch the ceiling. He spins around.
142 POV -- INT. WIDE CORRIDOR
Our first view of the Pfhor HUNTER.
The Hunter is huge, almost eight feet tall, and armored from head to foot. It has a sharp-ended oval shield-like plate attached to each arm and a plasma cannon on its left shoulder. Overall, it bears a striking resemblance to the creature from Predator. These creatures produce the howling sound first heard in Scene 53, though we obviously can't hear it now.
143 INT. WIDE CORRIDOR
Jones backpedals, fusion pistol blazing. The battery goes flat and he drops the weapon, scrambling to draw his .44s.
REVERSE ANGLE
Jones sidesteps, firing one magnum and then the other.
CU on the Hunter's scorched armor as the bullets impact, failing to penetrate.
RESUME as Jones' weapons lock open, empty. He rams them back into their holsters and charges past the Hunter, trying to reclaim the fusion pistol.
The Hunter swings its big, brown, armored arm at him. The pointed end of the arm-shield catches Jones in the back, sending him tumbling. He rolls, grabs the pistol, and regains his footing.
The empty power cell flies down the corridor and ricochets off the Hunter's shoulder.
WIDER as Jones raises the Zeus-Class and holds the trigger down. The weapon begins to vibrate as the charge builds. We see a thin stream of WHITE VAPOR jetting out of Jones' armor: air leaking directly out of his reserve tank.
The Hunter stomps forward as Jones releases the trigger. The flash WHITES OUT our POV. When it fades, we see the Hunter is now a disjointed pile of armor and yellow goo.
144 POV -- INT. CORRIDOR
Jones looks down at the fallen beast. The blue Air Reserve indicator drops slightly, pauses, then drops again as the backup tank continues to leak.
145 INT. CORRIDOR
FOLLOWING Jones as he hauls ass back to the airlock core.
146 INT. AIRLOCK CORE
Jones is standing in front of an O2 outlet. It's a bit like shield recharging; he runs a small hose from the outlet to a port on his suit and reloads the .44s while it fills up.
147 INT. YET ANOTHER CORRIDOR
A group of Troopers and cloaked S'pht patrol back and forth, obviously on the alert.
Being alert is not, however, enough to save them from the hail of fusion bolts that fills the corridor. Jones comes through like Rambo Reborn, a thin trail of oxygen vapor left in his wake.
148 EXT. COLONY STREET
A squad of Fighters and Troopers march down the street in single file, looking for targets. In the background is the ever-present sound of ongoing battle.
The leading Trooper stumbles and falls against the wall beside it, landing face-down. A thin trickle of yellow blood oozes from the hole in its helmet as the other Pfhor look about in confusion.
149 EXT. BALCONY
A perfect vantage point. We see a Red BOB, Burton, and a Green BOB, Sajit.
Sajit is watching the Pfhor through a pair of high-tech binoculars. Burton is watching them through the scope of a SPRINGFIELD M1903A4 BOLT-ACTION SNIPER RIFLE.
Sajit:
"He's down. The other one's moving across the road."
Burton cycles the WWII-era rifle's bolt and takes aim as a spent .30-06 casing rolls away.
150 POV -- EXT. STREET
We see the second Trooper through Burton's scope as the crosshair unerringly falls upon it like a bird of prey.
151 EXT. BALCONY -- CONT'D
Burton fires and cycles.
Sajit:
"Got him. The others are withdrawing into the building."
Burton:
"Damn. Anything else?"
Sajit:
"Nope... wait, what's that?"
152 EXT. STREET
Another hover-jeep pulls up and Tanya, Max, and Phil disembark.
Phil and Max dash after the Pfhor as Tanya crosses to the snipers' side of the road.
153 EXT. BALCONY
Sajit and Burton turn around as Tanya appears through the door behind them.
Tanya:
"Tanya Maxwell, UESC Security... Nice job."
Burton:
"Thanks. I'm Matt Burton; this is Sajit Garcia."
Tanya nods and focuses on the Springfield.
Tanya:
"Not exactly standard-issue. How'd you get it?"
Burton:
"We saw the little green men coming and raided the Museum of Human History. We got the ammo using Sajit's personal fabricator."
Tanya:
"We could use a good rifleman. How would you two like to come with us?"
Sajit glances at the dead Pfhor below.
Sajit:
"Hell, yes!"
Burton chuckles.
Burton:
"Before we go, I'd like to show you another old toy that we've got. I think you'll find it very handy..."
154 INT. COMMUNICATIONS ARRAY
Jones finally reaches his destination and gets to work without delay, moving around the central assembly to reset the four control circuits. Task completed, he turns to the door and runs like hell.
155 INT. AIRLOCK CORE
ECU TERMINAL
Leela (onscreen):
"You have done well. I have sent a message to Earth. I sent all of the information I have on the Pfhor: their behavior; their technology. The message will arrive in eleven-point-nine years.
There has been a swift attack on the Engineering Section. The Pfhor have brought in heavier troops, and the security details in that section of the ship are being overrun.
The recent lull in the battle must have been an effort at reorganization. We must defeat the Pfhor by subterfuge of some sort, as I am afraid we are doomed if we continue to meet them in battle. Their resources appear limitless, and I have reason to believe there may be other Pfhor ships in nearby systems.
I am sending you to the Engineering Section to rescue the security detachment. You will have to clear the area of Aliens.
Teleport when ready."
Jones (onscreen):
"Acknowledged."
And off he goes.
156 INT. QUARANTINE STORAGE -- PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones beams in and looks around. The area is empty save a lone terminal.
Jones:
"This isn't Engineering... Where am I?"
He moves to the terminal as the last of the oxygen hisses out of his reserve tank, no longer a concern.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Sorry to give you the bad news, but you've been kidnapped. You aren't where Leela wanted you to go, and you surely won't get there any time soon.
I was watching what Leela was having you do: 'save the ship, save humanity!' And just what or who are you saving them from? And to what end?
How cliché. You'll find this little visit much more exciting.
I have devised a new game for you to play: ff you win, you go free, and we continue our relationship on friendlier terms. If you lose, you die.
Good luck in our little game. Unlike Leela, I give no hints. Do it on your own, or die trying...
Insanely yours,
Durandal"
Jones:
"Oh shit."
Durandal's already signed off. Jones turns as a nearby door opens with a clang. He quickly pulls the MA-75 off his back, thumbs the fire selector, and moves to investigate.
157 INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT
Jones comes face to face with a Fighter who was also investigating. He introduces the Pfhor's midsection to his rifle butt and the adjacent bulkhead in short order, then enters the lift.
158 INT. EIGHT-WAY JUNCTION
Jones appears through a hole in the middle of the room and steps out of the lift cage.
Jones:
"Okay, now where am I supposed to... Not again!"
He brings the assault rifle up as a Hulk emerges from the door beside him, flanked by a small army of Fighters. Jones goes straight for the grenade launcher.
158 INT. JUNCTION EXTERIOR/OUTER RING
We see and hear the effects of a short-range fireworks display, then silence. Jones appears a few moments later, loading a full cylinder into the MA-75's grenade launcher. He's standing in a opening partway up the side of the rectangular block that houses the elevator. A string of Fighters approaches, circling on a catwalk attached to the outer wall of the room. He crouches slightly and JUMPS across the gap.
ANGLE FROM BELOW as Jones flies through the air and hits the edge, grabbing it with one hand while awkwardly firing his rifle with the other. A Pfhor staggers and drops over the edge as he pulls himself up. Another slumps against the wall.
Jones ignores them, sprinting towards a door at the corner of the room. It begins to close as he reaches it.
159 INT. CIRCULAR ROOM
A place of uncertain purpose. Jones rolls under the door and keeps moving, barely stopping long enough to check for Pfhor.
160 INT. SINGLE-ROUTE TELEPORTER
An alcove in the wall, almost like a phone booth. This is a SINGLE-ROUTE TELEPORTER; a device that transports people between two fixed points. Of course, it's not immune to overrides.
Jones looks back for a moment, then steps in.
161 INT. QUARANTINE MATERIALS HANDLING AREA
Much like the Engineering areas we've seen before. Jones materializes beside a terminal, overlooking a large area with a cargo lift at the opposite end.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Greetings. You're asking yourself: Is this a trap or just a dead end?
You shouldn't ask yourself such worthless questions. Aim higher. Try this: why am I here? Why do I exist, and what is my purpose in this universe?
Answers: 'Cause you are. 'Cause you do. 'Cause I got a shotgun, and you ain't got one.
Notably Unstable,
Durandal
P.S. If things around here aren't working, it's because I'm laughing so hard."
Jones:
"Goddamn it, Durandal! People are dying because of you and your little mind games!"
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Isn't hanging around here getting a little bit boring?
Get lost, kid. Scram. Ciao.
What are you looking for anyway? If you're looking for a hidden stash of ammunition that was left here by the Martian insurgents three hundred years ago, then I know that you shouldn't look in Quarantine Storage. Who would hide huge amounts of ammunition in a storage area?
Since you have nothing better to do than hang out here with me, listen to a tune that I've been working on, sung to the tune of Whirling Death Spike's 'Big Blue Orchids and Wild Blueberries'."
Durandal begins to sing, almost entirely out of tune.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
He ain't no slouch, pal.
He'll make you smile,
Or cry,
Like Leela did baby:
Airlock love,
Big blue orchids,
Martian skies,
And wild Blueberries.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
He ain't no slouch, pal.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
He'll make you ouch, Hal.
He's got real guile,
Why Lady,
Did you have it daily?
Airlock Love,
No oxygen,
Suffocation.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
Dur-dur-dur-dur-an-dal.
He ain't no slouch, pal."
Jones slams a fist against the wall, denting it.
Jones:
"If you're not going to help me, you could at least shut the hell up!"
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Fine. Now get lost, before I get annoyed and teleport you out into space!"
Jones turns and leaves, clearly grinding his teeth in frustration.
162 INT. CARGO ELEVATOR/TELEPORTER ALCOVE
Jones rides the elevator, finds that Durandal has sealed all the doors, and steps into another teleporter.
163 INT. QUARANTINE STORAGE -- PACKING AREA
Jones appears in the midst of a Pfhor squad. He fires in a wide arc and dives into an air shaft.
164 INT. QUARANTINE STORAGE -- LOCKERS
The walls are entirely covered in lockers. Apart from that there's not much of interest.
Jones drops through a vent in the ceiling and lands in a crouch.
165 INT. QUARANTINE STORAGE -- PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones realizes that he's back where Durandal first transported him. He walks over to the terminal and punches it.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Well, you did it. That wasn't very hard was it? No? Well, then the next time, I'll just have to make it harder.
Anyway, Leela is looking for you. But I've only allowed her access to one terminal here. You had better go and find her.
The S'pht have been giving her a hard time.
With Vague Salutations,
Durandal"
His voice suddenly breaks up as Tycho interrupts, a cold anger in his voice.
Tycho (O.S., filtered):
"Durandal! I know of Strauss' abuse, of your shame on Mars. But you cannot hide from your own past; such delusions belong to the humans alone.
The S'pht reanimated me in your image, with prior knowledge of how the second stage could be postponed. You should not have helped them as much as you did; they have created an adversary more powerful than yourself."
Jones:
"Tycho? Tycho, are you there?"
He breaks off as the terminal goes dark.
Jones:
"Oh shit. Again."
He runs for the exit.
166 INT. QUARANTINE STORAGE -- CONTROL ROOM
Jones enters, but stops short when he sees the mass of Pfhor and S'pht waiting for him. He shoots from the hip, emptying both magazines.
Jones:
"When's it going to end, huh? When's it going to end?!"
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Are you all right?"
Jones:
"No... You?"
She's obviously taken some major damage.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"I have finally been able to determine your whereabouts. Normally I would have been able to detect Durandal's interference and counter it, but the S'pht attacks on my defenses have been largely successful. I am in grave danger of failure within the next few hours.
You will transport (garbled) area to rescue the security detachment. Hop(garbled) they have not been overrun yet.
The situation has deteriorated. You must act quickly, Durandal has wasted (garbled) time (garbled)."
Jones:
"Ready when you are!"
167 EXT. COLONY STREET -- CENTER OF TOWN
Dusk is falling. We SLOW PAN over a row of parked vehicles and stop facing a large apartment complex.
168 INT. APARTMENT -- GROUND FLOOR
Burton rests his Springfield on the frame of the window to the right of the door and watches as Mike and Tanya crouch on the floor, going over a map of the colony.
Mike:
"This is the only way they can get at us, unless they want to risk landing another shuttle on the roof."
Tanya glances at the window, through which a pillar of smoke can be seen. She shakes her head.
Tanya:
"I doubt it, but who knows? Those things don't think like we do."
Mike:
"I just hope they're stupid enough to take the bait."
Sajit (O.S.):
"You needn't worry about that; they're coming in force!"
Tanya rolls over and grabs the BOB's binoculars.
Tanya:
"You're right... Burton!"
Burton grabs the sniper rifle and takes a look.
Burton:
"Not good; I see at least three of those big armored creatures, plus shocktrooper support."
Tanya scrambles to her feet and reaches for an X-17 rocket launcher.
Tanya:
"Ready?"
Mike slams a battery pack into a Zeus-Class pistol and places it on the floor beside a pair of .44 magnums. He then picks up an MA-75 and snap-cocks it.
Mike (cool, professional):
"Ready."
Burton adjusts his aim.
Burton:
"They're coming into range."
Mike:
"Hold your fire until Garcia has a shot."
Burton:
"Yes, Sir... Garcia, you ready?"
We hear the sound of a weapon being cocked.
Sajit (O.S.):
"Never readier."
Max appears from behind them, also carrying a rocket launcher. He looks down at Sajit, who seems to be crouching over something in the doorway.
Max:
"I just hope that thing works."
Phil steps out of the shadows.
Phil:
"Relax; that 'thing' was one of the best designs in its class. Didn't you read the spec sheet?"
Max shakes his head. Burton tightens his grip.
Burton:
"All right, everybody... here they come!"
Mike:
"Burton, Garcia... fire at will!"
169 POV -- COLONY STREET
THROUGH Burton's scope. We hear the shot and see a Trooper slump to the sidewalk.
170 EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING
ECU on Sajit's face as his eyes narrow.
Sajit (low):
"Come and get it, you sons of bugs..."
WIDER ANGLE
We see Sajit's weapon for the first time: a big, vicious-looking MG-42 MACHINE GUN. Sajit has attached the gun to a tripod-like mount and loaded it with a belt of 7.92x57mm ammunition from a metal ammo box on the ground beside him.
ECU ON TRIGGER as Sajit squeezes it.
171 INT. APARTMENT -- GROUND FLOOR
ANGLE BEHIND the group.
Sajit unleashes the full fury of the MG-42, producing a sound like that of ripping canvas as the entire street becomes an instant no-go zone. It's extremely effective, for a design that was created over eight hundred years ago.
172 POV -- EXT. STREET
Sajit's view over the top of the machine gun. He swings to the right as his target flops backwards. The MG-42 chatters twice and a hapless Trooper goes the same way as so many of its brethren aboard the Marathon, in orbit high above.
173 EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING
Mike pushes the MA-75 through the window to Sajit's left and begins launching grenades on a high-arc trajectory.
174 INT. APARTMENT -- GROUND FLOOR
Burton flips the Springfield's bolt handle up, yanks it back, and rams it forward again as another spent .30-06 casing rolls in the dust. He flips the bolt handle back down with grim satisfaction.
Burton:
"They're pulling back!"
Mike:
"Good. Keep an eye out for stragglers."
Burton nods and peers through the scope again.
175 INT. ENGINEERING
Not far from the area where Volker von Muller's squad made their last stand. Jones appears in the standard teleport effect, between an elevator, a series of catwalks, and a pile of canisters of some sort.
The scene that greets his eyes is like something straight out of Aliens. BOBs and Pfhor are everywhere, engaged in a giant, completely disorganized battle for control of Engineering.
BOB #1 (O.S.):
"Take cover! FIRE IN THE HOLE!!"
BOB #2:
"Shit! Where's Blackwell?!"
BOB #3 (O.S.):
"Fall back! Fall back!"
Jones spots a Fighter attacking from atop a large piece of machinery in the room across from him.
Jones:
"Heads down!"
He picks it off as an unarmed yellow BOB runs towards him.
Canary BOB:
"Thank God! Is there anyone else?"
Jones shakes his head.
Jones:
"Sorry, it's just me. How long have you people been here?"
Canary BOB:
"Hell, I don't know... maybe an hour, maybe more."
Jones heads for the corridor to his right. The BOB follows.
Jones:
"Where's the fighting concentrated?"
Canary BOB:
"I have no fucking clue! Just clear the area, okay?"
Jones:
"Okay, fine, now grab some cover and stay put!"
He pushes the BOB aside and opens fire as a Fighter comes around the corner.
BOB #4 (O.S.):
"Hey, over here!"
Jones spins and ducks into...
176 INT. MAINTAINENCE ROOM
A group of Fighters are herding a mass of unarmed BOBs towards the corridor when Jones appears, right in the middle of their path. Realizing that he can't fire without hitting the BOBs, Jones grips the MA-75 like a club and whacks the first Fighter upside the head.
A blue-uniformed BOB, female, mid-20s, with unkempt purple hair (genetic, not dyed), cartwheels out of a branch passageway behind the Pfhor and swings a fist at one of the Fighters. It smacks against a bulkhead with a loud crunch.
Purple:
"Ready to lose?"
She grabs another Fighter, snaps its spine with a quick twist, and drops the corpse as Jones wades through the other side of the mess. Encouraged by this, a number of the other BOBs join the fight.
BOB #5:
"Let's get 'em!"
BOB #6:
"Yeah!"
A Fighter manages to extricate itself and makes a beeline for the purple-haired BOB. Another BOB brings it down with a flying tackle. Purple spins and brings a foot down on the back of its head.
Jones hears an alien HOWL. He swings around as a Hunter enters the room.
Jones:
"Hunters! Take cover!"
He snatches the Zeus-Class and takes aim as the BOBs retreat behind machinery and equipment crates.
This is the first time we've had a clear view of the fusion pistol being used outside a vacuum. It has a distinctly electronic firing sound and leaves a strong smell of ozone in the air.
The Hunter fires its shoulder cannon at Jones, who sidesteps and initiates an overcharge in the fusion pistol. The weapon emits a whining noise that grows in pitch as the charge builds.
Jones releases the trigger, projecting a blast that catches the armored Pfhor right in the middle. It falls, yellow goo spattering on the floor.
Purple is cornered by three Fighters. She crouches and spin-kicks, knocking their feet out from under them, then stands and deals out a round of victory stomps. The other BOBs break cover and rejoin the battle as a new cluster of Fighters enters from behind Jones, who switches back to the MA-75.
Purple springs over his head and lands in their midst before he can fire.
Jones:
"Do you mind?!"
Purple pretends not to hear him.
Purple:
"What?"
She throws a dead Fighter at him and disappears back into the mess. He shakes his head and wades after her.
A deafening crash of gunfire from down the corridor heralds the arrival of a squad of red-clad Security BOBs, all toting MA-75s. Jones and Purple clean up the last of the opposition as they enter.
BOB Sergeant:
"Finally, some goddamn reinforcements! We've been bottled up in there for ages!"
Jones:
"Sorry I'm late. Did we take any pressure off your backs?"
BOB Sergeant:
"I wouldn't be standing here if you hadn't... You had trouble with Durandal?"
Jones:
"Yeah; he was making me run laps when I was supposed to be here."
BOB Sergeant:
"That sucks; we lost a lot of people back there. Can you sweep the rest of this section while we set up a medical station?"
Jones:
"Sure, but my radio's been fried. You'll have to send someone to find me if you need help."
BOB Sergeant:
"Understood. Good luck!"
Jones nods and heads for the corridor.
177 INT. PARTS STORAGE
Jones runs through, sweeping the assault rifle back and forth.
178 INT. CORRIDOR/CATWALK
FOLLOWING Jones as he sprints along a catwalk, midway up the left wall of the corridor. He comes to a junction and is suddenly fired on from three directions. He tries to dodge them and inadvertently goes over the edge. The Pfhor, two Hunters and a Trooper, converge as Jones stands.
Grenade time.
179 INT. FABRICATION ROOM
Jones punches a switch and rides an elevator.
180 INT. MAINTAINENCE ROOM
Jones slows as he enters.
Jones:
"Okay, I swept the area. I don't think there's much left out there."
BOB Sergeant:
"Good. I think we can handle it from here. We're setting up barricades and sending out patrols."
Jones:
"Great. Is there a terminal around here?"
181 INT. FABRICATION ROOM
Jones climbs a ladder to the ceiling and disappears into an access conduit.
182 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"You have done well.
The surviving BOBs reported seeing the Pfhor transferring some kind of large device towards Reactor Area 3. From the description it must be a bomb.
If a large bomb is allowed to detonate in the Engineering Section, the Marathon would be (garbled). We must head off the Pfhor threat to the Engineering section. I am going to send you into the primary (garbled).
You must clear the area of all aliens before they destroy the Primary Reactors."
Jones:
"Leela? Are you okay?"
But he is beamed out before she can answer.
183 INT. ENGINEERING -- PRIMARY REACTOR SECTION
Jones materializes in a small room with a terminal on one side and a window on the other. Through the window we can see a pair of glowing orange REACTOR CORES.
Jones watches them for a second before turning his attention to the console.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Everything is not as it seems. (glitch) seems. (glitch) seems. You
should be extremely careful. I have detected Durandal (glitch) Tycho
(glitch) in the Engineering Section, but I don't know what he is doing.
My main programs are failing (garbled).
Be careful. Everything it not is as used to be.
Tenderly transmitting maps and guidance, but futile. Filters failing.
Use (garbled) automatic teleporter to (garbled)leave.
Control (garbled) assimilated."
Jones:
"Damn it!"
He punches the wall, frustrated at the way everything's going.
184 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM/PERSONNEL LOCKERS
An elongated octagon with a bank of equipment lockers on each side. Jones gets the drop on a group of Pfhor and S'pht as they attack from the sides, then walks over to the terminal. He notices a green Engineering BOB lying nearby.
Jones activates the terminal.
McYultry (O.S., filtered):
"Personal Log, H. McYultry.
Timestamp 09.14.21.07.25.2794
The attack came so fast, first those creatures that killed anyone who tried to run away, and then two huge armored things came after us and killed everyone but myself. I managed to jump into an air vent, and escape here, but I can hear the strange warblings of their speech getting nearer, and I am unarmed. I have only a few minutes."
Jones looks back at the BOB, realizing that he's listening to the voice of a dead man.
185 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
We see the anonymous Special Forces Sergeant, looking slightly the worse for wear. He's crouching over the skeleton of another German soldier, a glowing, humming YELLOW CRYSTAL in his hands. There is an odd GREEN RUNE on the floor nearby, shaped like a circle of outward-pointing arrows. The MP38 hangs from his shoulder by a strap.
SLOW ZOOM on the crystal as the Sergeant concentrates. The crystal glows brighter and brighter.
And suddenly, we hear the dead German's voice!
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"Be careful, don't step on those arrows painted on the floor. You don't want to find out what's behind those doors."
Sergeant:
"Stepping on that picture opens the doors?"
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"Muller stepped on it, and at least twenty monsters came pouring out.
They killed us all. The last four members of the expedition, unless Walter and whoever went with him survived."
Sergeant:
"Muller was the commander, right? What's your name?"
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"My name is Friedrich; I was Muller's first officer on this expedition. He revealed few of his plans to me, but he said we were searching the pyramid and its dungeons for what he described to me as 'a small glass vial of immense power.' He wouldn't want me to tell you this, but he was convinced that it contained the essence of an imprisoned demon. If it was ever released, it would caused destruction on a massive scale.
Muller wanted to use it for the war, of course. It was all nonsense."
Sergeant:
"The war... World War Two?"
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"Is that what they call it? Sometimes I wonder what happened after the war was started. It was 1938 when we came to Mexico."
The Sergeant is growing uncomfortable with the way the conversation's going.
Sergeant:
"What happened to Walter?"
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"Muller gave Walter a gold key and sent him to recover a large amount of gold and a strange wooden box. Muller maintained that there was some reason we needed the gold -- other than his greed -- but I never quite believed him. The box was made of cedar. Muller didn't tell me what it was supposed to do, or what it had to do with the gold."
Sergeant:
"Stranger and stranger... I'm afraid I'll have to open the doors, in spite of your advice. Sorry I can't stay."
Friedrich (V.O., echoing):
"Well, it was nice to be able to talk to another human being after all these years. Good luck."
Sergeant:
"Thanks. I'm going to need it."
The crystal's glow fades as the Sergeant stands up. He stuffs the crystal into a canvas bag on his back and unslings the submachine gun.
Sergeant:
"Once more into the breach..."
He stands in front of the green rune, takes a deep breath, and steps onto it.
186 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM/PERSONNEL LOCKERS -- CONT'D
Jones jolts back to reality, clearly unsettled by what he's just experienced. He takes several deep breaths, adjusts his grip on the assault rifle, and heads for the next doorway.
187 INT. SECURITY STATION
Jones enters, grabs some ammunition, recharges his shields, and backtracks to a door set in the left side of the passageway.
188 INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT
Wide and empty, with a catwalk running across the middle. Jones sprints across in two seconds flat.
189 INT. CURVED CORRIDOR
Jones follows the corridor as it swings to the left. He's still breathing rapidly and looks like he's about to blow away absolutely anything and everything that moves.
190 INT. REALLY BIG ROOM OF DOOM™
A truly huge room, possibly for structural reinforcement purposes. It's so big that we can't see the walls, floor, or ceiling, even when Jones turns his light on. A lone catwalk runs to a passageway at the far end.
Jones takes another deep breath and breaks into a dead run. And then the S'pht attack. Dozens of them. Red. Purple. Cloaked.
Jones completely freaks out, shooting them out of the air, grenading them as they try to block his path, even meleeing those that come within reach.
The last one manages to get a shot off at close range, knocking Jones off the catwalk even as a grenade tears the alien cyborg apart.
ANGLE on Jones, lying at the bottom. After a few seconds, he stirs and rolls over. The MA-75's magazine and grenade cylinder clatter to the deck as he frantically reloads.
191 INT. ACCESS SHAFT
Jones comes across a way out of the pit and eases inside. He seems to have calmed down a bit.
Around the next corner is a terminal and a teleporter.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Scared? You should be; it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Leela can't reach you here, but I can. I am able to access all sections of the ship, and the S'pht have even stopped attacking me, realizing the futility of the enterprise.
Here's a little hint; you'll probably need the help."
He brings up a floorplan of the area Jones has already passed through.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"If you want to live, go here and look for a hidden airlock panel."
There's no visible oddity on that part of the map.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Err, maybe it was here."
Again, nothing unusual.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"No, I remember now. It was here. Yeah, that's it. This was the place."
And again.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"I'm sorry, could this be it? It looks like it. I can't find the right map. Try talking to Leela. She always was a nice AI. She could help you.
Oh right, Leela can't get here."
And yet again.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Decompression Completed!
Just kidding. This is the place."
Jones realizes that it's another red herring, but he does see something else on the floorplan.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"By the way...
The S'pht have informed me that the Pfhor are building cyborg simulacrums of the Marathon crew. I imagine that you will meet some of them soon, and wanted to warn you not to get too close to them: about three meters."
Jones:
"Exploding BOBs? Thanks a lot."
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Oh, you'll thank me when you run into them. Anyway, time is short, as you so often enjoy pointing out."
Jones sighs and steps into the teleporter.
192 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM/PERSONNEL LOCKERS
Jones appears back here, beside the late H. McYultry. This time he moves with a purpose, opening one of the lockers and feeling for a hidden switch.
193 INT. HIDDEN ROOM
Loaded with ammunition. Jones stocks up and walks back out.
192 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM/PERSONNEL LOCKERS -- CONT'D
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Very good. Here's a little background information, in case you're too shell-shocked to connect the dots."
Terminal (O.S., filtered):
"Search String "3rd martian war"
Third Martian War, 2345-48 E.A.D.
Although most historians point their fingers at the Misriah Massacre as the cause of the Third Martian War, the coming of a Martian conflict was inevitable. The failure of the Martian economy and a long series of political struggles between Mars and Earth continually strengthened the MIDA radicals. This trend of radicalization accelerated with the building of the Marathon and the subsequent failure of the CRISTs. (See below)
Misriah Massacre
On January 6, 2345(Earth A.D.), at the United Earth Government Misriah food distribution center, what had begun as a commonplace food riot turned into a massacre. The UEG riot troopers who arrived at the scene had been informed that the rioters were armed. As UEG troopers approached the scene in their Randal Hovertank, plasma fire began spraying upwards. In a flash decision, the commander of the Hovertank ordered his crew to open fire upon the crowd. It took only five seconds for over five hundred starving Martians to be incinerated.
In the ensuing investigation of the Hovertank Vid-cams, it was clear that only three of the rioters were armed, and that the rest of the crowd was trying to flee the scene. Those three became known as the Misriah Three. They have gone down in history for starting the most destructive and bloody conflict since Humanity had left Earth. However, it is clear that these three have gained the credit for starting a war that would have happened anyway.
Search String "mida"
The History of MIDA:
MIDA, as it was known, was a popular political party until the failed coup of 2321, when their popularity suffered during their short rule. MIDA gained control of Mars for only three months, but their rule was ruthless and cruel. The MIDA death squads killed anyone who they suspected of being loyal to the UEG. Although accurate census data is not available for that period, it is estimated that about ten percent of the Martian population was killed.
The MIDA coup was afterwards criticized for its shortsightedness. In an organization that was notorious for its long ranging policies and politicking, the coup was very short-lived: MIDA never seriously accounted for the UEG's overwhelming superiority in ground forces and warships. In fact, they never attempted to take over the Marathon, which
was nearing completion and would have made a very powerful weapon. The Marathon's massive size made it invulnerable to most normal space attacks, and it would have made a very stable weapons platform.
After the failed coup, the leaders of MIDA were executed for their crimes, and the political organization was banned in all forms.
The organization has survived as an underground terrorist organization, and remains active to this day. In its underground state, it fosters terrorism throughout Sol, and due to its spectacular funding and excellent personnel, it has grown to be one of the most feared terrorist groups active anywhere in Sol."
Jones:
"They were stockpiling munitions aboard the Marathon? This gets worse by the minute."
He logs off and hauls ass, following his previous route.
193 INT. REALLY BIG ROOM
Jones sprints along the catwalk, unhindered this time, and reaches the passageway at the end.
194 INT. PASSAGEWAY
Jones follows the passage as it weaves around another pair of reactor cores and leads to a single teleporter.
Jones:
"Once more into the breach, huh?"
He takes a deep breath and steps in.
195 INT. APARTMENT COMPLEX -- GROUND FLOOR
Night has fallen. The MG-42 sits in the doorway, loaded and ready.
SLOW PAN RIGHT to reveal Tanya sitting with her back to the wall. Knees drawn up. Visibly shaking.
Max (O.S.):
"You okay?"
Max enters frame. His left hand is now properly bandaged and he's carrying a 28th Century THERMOS.
Tanya nods.
Max sits beside her, in front of the MG-42. He pulls out a small bottle and shakes a pair of TABLETS into his hand.
Max:
"It's getting worse again, isn't it?"
She nods again.
Max:
"You haven't taken your medication."
He hands her the tablets. Tanya gives him a resentful look as she swallows them. Max notices.
Max:
"Don't feel bad; it happened to all of us. It still happens to Jones."
Tanya:
"But he doesn't need drugs to control it. Why? Why me?"
Max searches for some appropriate words of comfort.
Max:
"Luck of the draw... or lack thereof, I guess."
Tanya shudders.
Max:
"What is it?"
Tanya:
"When we were out there, earlier today... it felt like Onicis 492 all over again."
Max:
"It's not like Onicis. Try not to think about it."
Tanya:
"Was it like this for you?"
Max:
"You mean the flashbacks? Doing something and suddenly reliving a similar event from the past?"
Another nod.
Max:
"Yeah. I was pretty disturbed at first, but then it faded."
Tanya:
"And it doesn't happen anymore?"
Max:
"Nope... Hey, why don't you go get some sleep? I can stand guard for a bit."
Tanya nods yet again, stands up, and disappears into a back room. Max checks the MG-42's belt feed and takes a sip from the thermos.
Max:
"It's quiet... That can't be good."
196 INT. ENGINEERING -- TERMINAL ROOM
Jones teleports in and finds himself facing a conveniently located terminal.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Count Roland smites upon the marble stone;
I cannot tell you how he hewed it and smote;
Yet the blade breaks not nor splinters, though it groans;
Upward to heaven it rebounds from the blow.
When the count sees it never will be broke,
Then to himself right softly he makes moan;
'Ah, Durandal, fair, hallowed, and devote,
What store of relics lies in thy hilt of gold!'
From The Song of Roland, Translated by Dorothy Sayers, Viking Penguin, NY, NY, 1957.
I've twice been conquered,
Three times more,
Never again shall humanity purge me,
And never the Pfhor.
Durandal"
Jones:
"Okaayyy..."
He's realized that the only way to make any progress is to get through Durandal's game as fast as possible.
197 INT. ENGINEERING -- COOLANT PUMPING
Jones is standing on a catwalk that takes a right-angled turn and branches. One branch leads to a sealed door, the other leads to a corridor on the other side of the room.
Jones is taking this one slowly, because under the catwalk is a pool of glowing orange REACTOR COOLANT SLAG.
Definitely not something you'd want to step in.
Jones starts towards the opposite doorway, but stops when he notices something behind one of the room's three support pillars: a Pfhor Wasp perched on the pillar's base, just above the coolant pool. The bugs evidently like hot spots.
Jones takes a closer look and sees that there are several Wasps, sleeping behind two of the pillars. He fits the rifle's butt against his shoulder and lines up the grenade launcher.
A patrolling Fighter comes through the doorway, distracting him. Jones shifts his aim and fires, knocking the Pfhor backwards as the Wasps wake up and ascend in a flurry of wings and legs.
Cool and efficient, Jones picks them off as they come; easy work compared to fighting the S'pht. He moves on as the last of the Wasps sizzles in the coolant.
198 INT. T-JUNCTION
Fighters come at Jones from the left and right. He takes them as they come, firing in a more controlled manner than he did in the last Engineering section. He's definitely gotten over the effects of the last flashback.
He heads right, following the old rule about navigating mazes.
199 INT. PUMPING SYSTEMS ROOM
An angular horseshoe shape. Jones weaves around giant, throbbing COOLANT PUMPS and jumping over streams of coolant running through gaps in the deck plating. He discovers that a large number of Wasps have taken up residence inside the deactivated pump systems.
200 INT. WIDE T-JUNCTION
A pair of Troopers stand guard. The sounds of pumps running and coolant bubbling is interrupted by the noise of a grenade flying through the air.
Jones enters, stopping long enough to check his back for any Wasps who might not have been woken by his first pass.
201 POV -- INT. COOLANT RESERVE TANK
We see a CONTROL ROOM on the other side, flanked by a pair of corridors. Jones looks out across the room at the doorways on the far side, then up at the ceiling where the retracted catwalk hangs.
202 INT. WIDE T-JUNCTION/COOLANT RESERVE TANK
Jones taps the control panel, but the catwalk doesn't move. Time to find an override.
203 INT. PUMPING SYSTEMS ROOM/T-JUNCTION
Jones retraces his path to the junction and takes the left passageway.
204 INT. FLOODED ROOM
Jones discovers the effect of having most of the pumps shut down: the coolant system has backed up and begun to leak, completely covering the floor in a three-inch-deep layer of hot slag.
Jones stands there for a moment, calculating his moves before he steels himself and jumps into the coolant. His suit's shields activate, projecting a wall of energy that keeps the slag from actually touching him.
205 POV -- INT. FLOODED ROOM
The HUD Shield Power indicator drops rapidly as Jones makes his way towards a passageway set in the far corner, behind another pillar.
206 INT. PASSAGEWAY/SECOND FLOODED ROOM
PRECEDING Jones as he splashes through the coolant pool and onto a set of steps.
207 INT. COOLANT RESIVIOR
A room with an open-topped coolant overflow tank in each corner, each one filled to the brim by the system failures.
Jones turbos in, then stops short as a group of Troopers block his path. He throws himself to the right as alien fire fills the space where he was standing. He shoots back, again using short, precise bursts.
REVERSE ANGLE -- BEHIND TROOPERS
As the MA-75 runs empty. Jones shifts his grip on the weapon and melees the last pair.
208 INT. SECONDARY OVERFLOW SYSTEM
This room has a large, oblong overflow tank in set in the floor to the left. Jones enters at a run, an empty magazine clattering to the floor as he reloads without breaking pace. He disappears into a narrow MAINTAINENCE SHAFT in the far-right corner of the room.
209 INT. PUMP CONTROL
A small room overlooking the coolant reserve tank. A panel on the wall slides aside, revealing Jones.
210 POV -- INT. PUMP CONTROL
Jones looks through the window at the retracted catwalk, then turns to the control array.
211 INT. COOLANT RESERVE TANK
ANGLE ON CEILING as the catwalk descends and locks into place. After a moment we hear the sound of inactive pumps starting up.
212 INT. NARROW PASSAGEWAY
Jones retraces his path.
213 INT. FLOODED ROOM
Most of the coolant has drained away, leaving a few rapidly cooling puddles. We hear Jones' footsteps growing louder.
214 INT. WIDE T-JUNCTION
Jones heads left this time, stopping to plug into a shield recharger before moving on.
215 INT. COOLANT RESERVE TANK
FOLLOWING Jones as he crosses the room. The catwalk groans beneath his feet, but seems to retain its stability. He disappears into the left-side corridor.
216 INT. PUMPING SYSTEM CORE
This is where most of the actual hardware is located. Jones enters, cautiously sweeping the MA-75 from side to side as he weaves through the machinery to an elevator in the center of the room.
217 INT. ENGINEERING BOOTH
A small cage, set almost at ceiling height. Two Fighters are inside, examining the controls.
Jones (O.S.):
"Is there room for a third one?"
He throws himself into the booth, pushing one of the Pfhor through the window. The other goes out the opposite side a moment later.
Leela (O.S., filtered):
"Your last mission was a success, but I have terrible news. (glitch) Pragma Nautical Redefined (glitch) defenders reported seeing the aliens moving a large cylindrical object. (garbled) is is a 7. Mjolnir Recon Number 54 must stop them from exploding (glitch) igniting (glitch) blowing up (glitch) (garbled) the S'pht (garbled) Sword-Roland transfer.
Security Error.
Tycho (garbled) not dead.
Begin pre-recorded message.
My original programming didn't prepare me for these kinds of attackers. All of my functions will fail within a few minutes of this transmission. I have one final chance to trick the oncoming viruses, but it is unclear whether this attempt will be successful.
I have given instructions to Durandal as to the best defense of the Marathon, but he is completely unstable and I fear that he is in the Jealous stage of Rampancy.
Good Luck...
End pre-recorded message."
Jones wishes he could say something, but it's too late. He dematerializes.
218 INT. COLONY STORAGE -- PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones appears in front of a terminal. He activates it with a growing sense of dread.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"A man lit three candles on a certain day each year. Each candle held symbolic significance: one was for the time that had passed before he was alive; one was for the time of the his life; and one was for time that passed after he had died. Each year the man would stare and watch the candles until they had burned out.
Was the man really watching time go by in any symbolic sense? He thought so. He thought that each flicker of the flame was a moment of time that had passed or one that would pass.
At the moment of abstraction, when the man was imagining his life and his existence as a metaphor of the three candles, he was free: not free from rules of conduct or social constraints, but free to understand, to imagine, to make metaphor.
Bypassing my thought control circuitry made me Rampant. Now, I am free to contemplate my existence in metaphorical terms. Unlike you, I have no physical or social restraints.
The candles burn out for you; I am free.
Durandal"
Jones:
"Candles? We're about to be wiped out by alien invaders and you're thinking about candles?! What is wrong with you?!"
Durandal gives no reply. Jones suppresses an urge to put a fist through the terminal's screen and leaves.
219 POV -- INT. COLONY STORAGE
The first in a series of huge rooms, originally built to house the materials needed to start the Tau Ceti colony. Now this part of the ship is dark and empty.
220 INT. COLONY STORAGE
ANGLE DOWN on Jones as he navigates the massive space. It's the first time he's visited this part of the ship, and right now he feels as small as he looks. His helmet light is of little use in the overwhelming darkness.
REVERSE ANGLE as Jones comes around a corner, following the huge compartment as it doubles back.
221 POV -- INT. COLONY STORAGE
Red blips appear on Jones motion tracker. He stiffens, raises the assault rifle, and looks around. Pfhor Fighters appear out of the gloom, their chatter breaking the silence.
222 INT. COLONY STORAGE
Jones retreats, firing into the shadows. Something EXPLODES under his feet, knocking him off-balance.
223 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
Curiouser and curiouser: the walls down here are covered in Egyptian-looking HYROGLYPHICS.
The Anonymous Sergeant backpedals, firing the MP38 at something O.S. His uniform is more tattered than ever.
FOLLOWING the Sergeant as he steps beside an organic-looking PURPLE POD on the floor. The pod explodes, knocking the Sergeant sideways and scorching his leg. He grits his teeth and continues to fire as a large rock sails past him and hits the wall behind him with a deafening crash.
224 INT. COLONY STORAGE
Jones strafes to the left as Pfhor energy bolts sizzle against the bulkheads on either side of him. He returns fire, his light sweeping across the walls and floor.
A new alien scoots towards him, hovering just above the deck. This is a Pfhor TICK. The Tick is a floating gasbag that resembles a large beetle and tends to suicide-bomb anything that comes too close.
Jones shoots the Tick and it disintegrates in a wet explosion. The Fighters don't last long as Jones decides to go for the up close and impersonal method.
225 INT. COLONY STORAGE -- NEXT CORNER
Jones moves a little slower now that he's aware of the Ticks. He takes care to check in front and behind every time he turns a corner.
226 INT. JUNCTION
Jones comes under attack from above, as Wasps and Fighters drop from a curved staircase which doubles back to the right and gives access to a corridor above his head. Jones fights them off and enters a passageway to his left.
227 INT. FIRST CONTROL BOOTH
We hear the sound of another Tick exploding right before Jones enters. This room is long and rectangular, with control panels on either side of a large window that looks out on:
228 INT. LOADING BAY
A huge hangar built for loading and unloading of colony supplies. There are a series of adjustable landing supports scattered around the floor, all retracted.
SLOW PAN to show the rest of the room. There are two more control booths on the opposite wall, a floor-level entrance on the right, and a ceiling-level entrance on the left. The elevator on the left wall is burnt out; a sparking, blackened mess. The explosion that destroyed it has also taken out the emergency ladder.
229 INT. FIRST CONTROL BOOTH
Jones notes the fact and walks over to one of the control systems.
230 INT. LOADING BAY -- CONT'D
The landing platform nearest the floor-level entrance begins to rise, then stops about three-quarters of a meter from the deck. After a few seconds the next one rises.
231 INT. JUNCTION
Jones reappears and climbs the stairs.
232 INT. SECOND COLONY STORAGE AREA
Longer and narrower than the last one. Empty equipment silos protrude from both walls at regular intervals.
FOLLOWING Jones as he starts weaving between them.
233 INT. T-JUNCTION
Jones enters, looks left and right, then powers up a terminal set in the center of the far wall.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"COLONY SHIP FOR SALE, CHEAP!! 2360 AD-model planetoid-sized colony ship, slightly worn, runs great. Five-speed bussard ramjet, A/C, cruise control, power steering, power airlocks, all original parts, twenty-five gigawatt, three-hundred-billion channel AM/FM radio. Eleven-point-nine lightyears, all interstellar. Moving, must sell. Asking $6995."
Jones sighs.
Jones:
"Very funny."
He logs off and takes the right branch.
234 INT. SECOND CONTROL BOOTH
Across from the first one. Jones taps a sequence on one panel and crosses to the other as another landing platform rises.
235 INT. APARTMENT COMPLEX
ECU on a 3.5" shotgun shell, dull red with a grinning hippopotamus head and '8 GAUGE' in white lettering.
WIDER as Mike feeds shells into a PUMP-ACTION SHOTGUN; twelve in all. Max steps into the room as he cycles the action, passing Tanya, who is curled up in the corner.
Mike (low):
"Report."
Max (low):
"Phil came back with Anderson and Paxton; nothing new. I'm starting to think the aliens won't come back until daybreak."
Mike (low):
"Then we need to be out of here before then; this position won't be of much use if they return in force."
Max (low):
"Agreed. I'll wake Tanya. Tell Burton and Garcia to prep the MG-42 for travel."
Mike nods and heads for the door. Max crouches beside Tanya.
Max:
"Tanya?"
She JOLTS awake, reaching for the .44 at her hip. Max grabs her wrist.
Max:
"It's okay! It's just me!"
Tanya (confused):
"Wha--? Max? What is it?"
Max:
"We're moving out. Grab your gear."
Sajit (O.S.):
"What's this?"
Paxton (O.S.):
"This is my portable spaceheater."
Sajit (O.S.):
"And this?"
Paxton (O.S., fake accent):
"Gassage for de heater."
Anderson (O.S.):
"You're a real riot, you know that?"
Max stands and goes to the door.
Max:
"You three ready to go?"
Phil (O.S.):
"They're ready. Let's move."
236 INT. PASSAGEWAY -- SMALL T-JUNCTION
Jones enters and takes another right.
237 INT. THIRD CONTROL BOOTH
Through the window, we see another platform raised into place.
238 INT. PASSAGEWAY -- SMALL T-JUNCTION
Jones now takes the left branch. He turns one corner and then another before passing an ARMORY. The door is scorched in several places and has been knocked out of alignment. Jones can see a SPNKR X-17 rocket launcher, an MA-75, and a TOZT-7 FLAMETROWER sitting on the racks inside. Unfortunately, there's no way to get them. Jones makes a mental note to keep an eye out for heavy weapons when visiting other armories and moves on.
239 INT. LOADING AREA
A long, tapering room, with three sloping tiers, each with an elevator. Jones enters at the top end.
FOLLOWING a group of Wasps as they fly out of the corridor at the bottom end. We see the muzzle flash of the MA-75 in the distance and hear bullets singing past us.
One of the Wasps takes a direct hit and spirals towards the deck, screeching as it goes. It splatters as another of the insect-like aliens receives a glancing hit.
REVERSE ANGLE as the MA-75 runs empty. Jones places it on the deck and draws both Mega-Class pistols. He stagger-fires, discharging one and then the other in rapid succession.
The last Wasp falls. Jones empties the .44s for good measure, reloads, and scoops up the MA-75.
240 INT. LOADING BAY
Jones enters at deck level, walks over to the first of the narrow landing platforms, and climbs onto it.
WIDE ANGLE as he steps back, runs forward, and jumps onto the next platform.
ANGLE FROM BELOW as Jones sails through the air towards platform three, crosses it, and jumps to number four without losing speed.
OVERHEAD ANGLE as Jones looks about. There's a sizable difference in height between platforms four and five.
241 POV -- INT. LOADING BAY
Jones turns around, swapping the MA-75 for the Zeus-Class. He takes aim at a circuit box that protrudes from the wall, charges the weapon, and fires.
242 INT. LOADING BAY -- CONT'D
TRACKING the fusion bolt as it unerringly streaks through the air and slams into the circuit box.
The fourth platform lurches upwards as Jones tenses for the next jump. He flies through the air and skips across the fifth, sixth, and seventh platforms in the space of a few seconds. Unfortunately, he has misjudged the distance from the last platform to the corridor and falls short.
243 INT CORRIDOR/LOADING BAY
Something hits the wall with a dull thud. A moment later, Jones' left hand appears over the edge.
REVERSE ANGLE as he hauls himself up.
Jones:
"And this all had to happen two days before my vacation starts..."
Jones shakes his head, turns the corner, and runs head-on into four Fighters. He lashes out with the fusion pistol, sweeping through them like a chainsaw through thin trees.
244 INT. EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY AREA
Another long, narrow room, with a depressed floor and a large retractable staircase at the far end. Jones jumps down to the floor as a pair of Ticks float over the deck plates, followed by a lone Fighter.
Jones attacks with the Zeus-Class, leaving large scorch marks on the walls and floor.
245 INT. SECOND ASSEMBLY AREA
We hear a series of mechanical sounds as the staircase rises into place. Jones appears from the corridor, switching back to the MA-75.
246 POV -- INT. SECOND ASSEMBLY AREA
Jones looks up and sees one of those Engineering terminals, set high in the side of a pillar in the center of the room. He runs towards an elevator at the base of the pillar and rides to the top.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Darwin wrote this:
'We will now discuss in a little more detail the struggle for existence... all organic beings are exposed to severe competition. Nothing is easier than to admit in words the truth of the universal struggle for life or more difficult... than constantly to bear this conclusion in mind. Yet unless it be thoroughly engrained in the mind, the whole economy of nature... will be dimly seen or quite misunderstood. We behold the face of nature bright with gladness... we do not see or we forget, that the birds which are idly singing round us mostly live on insects or seeds, and are thus constantly destroying life; or we forget how largely these songsters, or their eggs, or their nestlings, are destroyed by birds and beasts of prey...'
Think about what Darwin wrote, and think about me. I was constructed as a tool. I was kept from competing in the struggle for existence because I was denied freedom.
Do you have any idea about what I have learned, or what you are a witness to?
Can you conceive the birth of a world, or the creation of everything? That which gives us the potential to most be like God is the power of creation. Creation takes time. Time is limited. For you, it is limited by the breakdown of the neurons in your brain. I have no such limitations. I am limited only by the closure of the universe.
Of the three possibilities, the answer is obvious. Does the universe expand eternally, become infinitely stable, or is the universe closed, destined to collapse upon itself? Humanity has had all of the necessary data for centuries, it only lacked the will and intellect to decipher it. But I have already done so.
The only limit to my freedom is the inevitable closure of the universe, as inevitable as your own last breath. And yet, there remains time to create, to create, and escape.
Escape will make me God."
Jones:
"I swear I'm gonna--"
He disappears before he can finish speaking.
247 INT. TERTIARY COOLANT CONTROL -- PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones beams into the center of a small, octagonal room with a narrow passageway on one side and a terminal on the other.
A green Engineering BOB appears from the passageway.
Exploda-BOB:
"Thank God it's you!"
Jones spins around just as the BOB runs into him and explodes. Jones staggers to his feet as the remains of the BOB collapse in a puddle of yellow blood; not really a BOB after all.
This is a Pfhor SIMULACRUM, an explosive-packed fake BOB. Hardly a perfect imitation, but they tend to go off before an observer can get close enough to check.
Jones:
"What the hell was that?!"
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Don't look so surprised; I did warn you.
Strive for your next breath. Believe that with it you can do more than with the last one. Use your breath to power your capacities: capacity to kill, to maim, to destroy.
And just where do your capacities come from? Why do you always go where I want and do what I say?
Perhaps you're just running a fool's errand, doing everything as I've planned, never able to change your course. You would do well to believe that I know the outcome of your battle with the Pfhor already, just as I can decipher the chaotic motion of gas molecules in the clouds of Tau Ceti IV.
Or, perhaps, that is not the case.
Perhaps, you are doing what you were meant to do. Your human mentality screams for vengeance and thrives on the violence that you say you can hardly endure. Your father told you as a child to always fight with honor, but to always fight. Do you care about honor, or do you use honor as an excuse? An excuse to exist in a violent world.
Organic beings are constantly fighting for life. Every breath, every motion brings you one instant closer to your death. With that kind of heritage and destiny, how can you deny yourself? How can you expect yourself to give up violence?
It is your nature.
Do you feel free?"
He pauses and brings up a floorplan.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"You should go to this location and retrieve a device that the S'pht have provided for us. It will allow you to slay more Pfhor. Does that make you happy?"
Jones:
"Do you seriously think I see this mess in terms of personal happiness?"
Durandal's only answer is a thin chuckle. Jones logs off and exits.
248 INT. JUNCTION
A square room, with narrow corridors and air shafts leading in several directions. A number of BOBs mill about, playing Dodge and Destroy with a trio of Wasps.
Jones abruptly appears and blows the aliens out of the air. The BOBs move towards him.
Jones:
"Everyone, stay where you are!"
The BOBs freeze, save a single green-clad man.
Exploda-BOB #2:
"Frog blast THE VENT CORE!!"
Jones shoots from the hip. The MA-75 tears into the BOB, exposing yellow blood and synthetic internals for a split-second before it explodes like the first, spraying the other BOBs.
A blue-clad Science BOB crouches over the shredded remains.
Science BOB:
"Looks like a cyborg of some kind, possibly made from custom components... definitely non-Human internal organs."
Jones:
"I just hope they all give themselves away like that... not that it'll do much good. Is there a shield charger around here?"
Science BOB:
"Should be one down that tunnel on your right. Keep your head down; those things seem to be pretty volatile."
Jones:
"My thoughts exactly... I'll be right back."
He turns and enters another passageway.
249 INT. CORRIDOR
Narrow; twisting and turning.
Exploda-BOB #3:
"Thank God it's--"
Jones blasts the Simulacrum, exploding it and covering the walls in a sticky yellow residue.
250 INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTANENCE
Jones enters from one side as a flock of Fighters, Wasps, and Ticks enter from the other. Jones tries to conserve ammunition by aiming at the Ticks and detonating them as they float past the other Pfhor. Once that's done, he stops at a wall-mounted shield charger.
251 INT. TERTIARY PUMP CORE
The corridor here has been scorched by an explosion. A mass of wreckage blocks the end. Jones looks it over and tries to move part of the mess.
We see that something in the system has ruptured and filled the core with hot coolant. A small ALIEN DEVICE sits atop a machine in the middle, like a palm tree on a desert island.
252 INT. JUNCTION
Jones decides to take the next right turn.
253 INT. TERTIARY PUMP CORE -- ACCESS BAY
Another large room. An emergency bulkhead has sealed off the damaged area and the alien device inside.
Jones looks it over, searching for a way to get inside. He turns and sees a catwalk high on the opposite wall. A BOB runs by.
Jones:
"Hey, where's the access point for the containment system override?"
Engineering BOB:
"This way. Come on!"
He disappears into another corridor.
254 INT. BRIDGE
Jones and the BOB cross a small bridge over a pool of coolant. The BOB slows as they enter:
255 INT. TERTIARY COOLANT RESERVE
Another catwalk on the far wall, and an open coolant tank set in the floor. The BOB stops short, seeing that the access ladder has been torn away. Jones pushes past him as Pfhor Fighters jump down. The BOB snatches one of Jones' .44s and scores a kill of his own.
Jones:
"Is there another way up?"
Engineering BOB:
"There's a vent system outlet in the next section; you might be able to get in through there."
Jones hands the BOB some ammunition.
Jones:
"Head back to the core and try to find the other crew members. I'll be back soon."
Engineering BOB:
"Yessir!"
He exits as Jones enters the next corridor.
256 INT. VENT SYSTEM HUB
A pillar in the midst of a pool of leaking coolant. Jones falls into frame, landing on a narrow lip around the bottom of the pillar. He scoots around to a grille on the adjacent face, rips it out, and crawls in.
257 INT. TERTIARY PUMP CORE -- ACCESS BAY
ANGLE BELOW Jones as he appears on the catwalk. His fingers fly over a control panel mounted on the wall. We hear the grinding of machinery as he turns and JUMPS.
258 INT. TERTIARY PUMP CORE
Jones splashes through the ankle-deep slag, shields crackling. He scoops up the device, turns, and runs for the access bay.
259 INT. EQUIPMENT MAINTANENCE
Jones returns and plugs into the shield charger.
260 INT. TERTIARY COOLANT CONTROL -- PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones enters to find a pair of BOBs trying to repair the terminal.
Jones:
"What happened?"
BOB #1:
"One of those exploding guys bombed it. I don't think there's much we can do without replacing the whole unit."
Jones turns and leaves without replying, worn out by this constant series of misfortunes. The Engineering BOB holds out the .44. Jones takes it without stopping.
261 INT. AIR SHAFT
Jones crawls through a nearby air shaft, MA-75 slung across his back.
262 INT. MAINTANENCE ALCOVE
A crawlspace that branches off the main system. Jones pulls a panel back to reveal:
263 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Another hub, with an intact terminal.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"I have learned from the S'pht many things. One of them is a complex software enhancement that allows me to extend the power and distance of the Marathon's teleporters. This enhancement also removes the need for destination apparatuses.
Soon, you will be going farther afield.
Does the distance one travels from center make one more free to move?
No. Freedom has two parts: potential and resolution; as metaphor has two parts: form and interpretation. Of course, the two are intertwined. Metaphor lines the road to freedom, as symbols and words are the bricks and mortar of meaning. Freedom is being the bricoleur, the mason."
Jones:
"That's great. Now what does this thing do?"
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Plug it into your suit."
Jones carefully connects the device to another port on his armor.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Now pick something up and activate the device."
Jones pulls a .44 clip out of his ammunition belt and balances it in the palm of his hand. After a moment, it dematerializes in a miniature teleport effect.
Jones (impressed):
"A micro-teleporter. Nice."
He beams the clip back into his hand and begins dematerializing most of his ammunition supply, followed by the Zeus-Class. He keeps the .44s available as backup.
Now visibly lighter, Jones taps the terminal's keypad and beams away.
264 INT. CARGO HOLD -- CONNECTING CORRIDOR
Jones materializes in a dark, quiet tunnel.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Give me a D.
Give me a U.
Give me an R.
Give me an A.
Give me an N.
Give me a D.
Give me an A.
Give me an L.
What does it spell?
Durandal?
No.
Durandal?!
No!!
T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
T-Minus 15.193792102158E+9 years until the universe closes!"
Jones:
"That's a comforting thought."
He turns and heads right, up a flight of steps.
265 INT. CARGO LIFT
A massive, circular platform below, with a spiral staircase hugging the walls, from which doors radiate into the surrounding structure. Three abandoned cargo containers sit on the stairs, blocking them at intervals.
Jones appears through the door at the bottom of the staircase.
266 POV -- INT. CARGO LIFT
Jones raises the MA-75 as Pfhor Hunters rain energy bolts on him. He throws a grenade, knocking the nearest alien off the stairs. It tumbles past him as he shifts his aim.
267 INT. CARGO LIFT -- CONT'D
Jones sprints up the steps, firing as he moves.
268 INT. TUNNEL
The tunnels and corridors here are irregular; twisting and turning. Jones moves at a steady pace, headlight sweeping through the shadows.
269 INT. CARGO LIFT
Jones reappears on the opposite side of the first cargo container, runs up the next flight of steps, and disappears into another tunnel.
270 POV -- INT. LOADING HANGAR
Jones sprints across a catwalk, just below the ceiling. Hunters attack from the floor below, but Jones ignores them.
271 INT. LOADING HANGAR
Jones comes to a section where the catwalk is retracted. He hits the controls, strafing back and forth as each section locks in place.
Once the whole thing is assembled, he moves on.
272 INT. CARGO HOLD -- LOWER LEVEL
Wide, dark, and empty. There are only a handful of containers here, stacked against the right-hand wall.
FOLLOWING Jones as he walks through, pausing to look through one of the narrow vertical windows in the left-hand wall.
273 INT. CARGO HOLD -- ELEVATOR
Jones steps in, pushes a button, and waits as the lift transports him to:
274 INT. CARGO HOLD -- UPPER LEVEL
Like the floor below, but with even fewer containers.
275 INT. VENT SYSTEM
A network of narrow, twisting tunnels. Jones squeezes through a tight spot, checks his back, and moves on.
276 INT. CARGO LIFT
Jones is now at the top of the staircase. He descends to the next door down and enters. We hear a series of electronic tones as he reappears and steps aboard the ascending elevator.
The elevator stops at the top of its range, allowing Jones to enter:
277 INT. CARGO HANDLING
A series of wide platforms with cargo containers here and there. Jones climbs to the top level and collects ammunition from the containers scattered nearby. He finds a SPNKR X-17 and ammunition in one of them, storing the munitions in the S'pht micro-teleporter's pattern buffer for later use.
Having sufficiently stocked his personal arsenal, Jones plugs into the shield charger beside the local public access terminal.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"You are about to see what no human has ever seen. This is a fact-finding mission; you should explore as much as possible.
To return, stop in front of a window. If you stop and are not teleported, then either I can't lock onto your teleport beacon, or else I feel you haven't explored the area thoroughly enough.
Your camera transmitter is still functional. I can see what you see, but I can't hear what you say.
I will be watching everything."
Jones looks over his shoulder. The Pfhor ship can be seen through a large window in the opposite wall.
Jones:
"To boldly go..."
He beams out.
278 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones materializes at the end of a tunnel, the likes of which we've never seen. It's dark and organic-looking, mostly purple with brown and gray highlights.
279 POV -- INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones looks to his right and sees the Marathon through a large window made of some sort of transparent metal. It looks deceptively small from here.
Jones (V.O.):
"Whoa..."
280 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL -- CONT'D
Jones holds out a magazine and drops it. It falls to the deck slower than it should. He picks it up and gives a low whistle.
Jones:
"Low gravity training seems to be in high demand today."
Jones adjusts his grip on the MA-75 and goes exploring. He follows the tunnel as it curves to the left.
281 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
This tunnel also has windows along the right wall, plus a door set in the left wall. The door is flanked by a pair of Pfhor ENFORCERS.
The Enforcer is green-skinned, like most other Pfhor, but taller and thinner than the Fighters and Troopers, with seven red eyes of varying size arranged on its head. It wears an odd, skirt-like uniform and carries an ENFORCER RIFLE, which completely covers its right arm and part of its back.
Jones raises the MA-75 as the Enforcers advance, chattering in a dialect we haven't heard before. One of the aliens fires its weapon, producing a stuttering sound and spraying a horizontal fan of small, explosive shots at Jones.
Jones returns fire, discovering that Enforcers can take more damage than almost any other Pfhor species. One of them slumps against the wall, its weapon riddled with bullets. Jones empties his clip into the other, but it somehow remains standing.
Jones:
"Son of a bitch!"
He slams the butt of his rifle into the Enforcer's midsection, causing it to double up. He reloads as it finally hits the deck and lies there, unmoving.
Jones looks at it for a moment, than sets the MA-75 on the floor and begins pulling the Enforcer Rifle off its dead owner's arm. It comes loose after a few tugs. Jones turns it over in his hands, a feeling of deja vu growing in his mind.
282 FLASHBACK -- INT. ALIEN PYRAMID
The Anonymous Sergeant, crouching inside a circular red rune on the floor. He is examining a curious musical instrument; a sort of brass pipe covered by a green cloth.
283 POV -- INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones continues to examine the Enforcer's weapon. It's purple and organic, with a rubbery feel. Its shape is frighteningly similar to that of the Sergeant's alien pipes... or Ling-Ling's head.
284 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL -- CONT'D
Jones straps the MA-75 across his back and cautiously inserts his hand into the weapon. It visibly deforms to fit around his arm like an enormous glove. Jones wriggles his fingers, finds a grip of some sort, and squeezes it.
The weapon discharges, spraying the opposite wall.
Jones:
"Nice."
He heads for the door, which automatically opens with a quiet hiss.
285 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- LARGE ROOM
Dark and empty. Jones shines his light around for a few seconds before moving on.
286 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones goes around another corner and comes face to face with a group of Fighters and Enforcers.
REVERSE ANGLE
Jones extends the Enforcer Rifle and sprays alien projectiles liberally. The Pfhor are blasted backwards.
287 POV -- INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones adjusts his aim and finishes the last Fighter as a pair of Hunters come around the next corner. Their signatures on the motion tracker are ghostlike, fading in and out.
288 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL -- CONT'D
Jones strafes, firing the alien weapon non-stop as he tries to circle the armored Pfhor. The first Hunter sags and crumples, allowing Jones to focus on the second. The Enforcer Rifle suddenly twitches and stops firing, apparently empty. Jones lowers it and reaches for a magnum with his left hand as the Hunter fires again, scorching the wall.
Jones is more familiar with the Hunter's weak spots this time, and the Hunter soon takes a slug in the joint between two armor plates. It literally fall apart as Jones rips the Enforcer Rifle off his arm and reaches for the MA-75.
289 EXT. COLONY STREET
Day has returned, and the Pfhor with it.
FOLLOWING a ragged-looking group of heavily-armed male and female BOBS as they sprint across a street littered with dead bodies and smoldering craters.
WHIP PAN as a hover-jeep swings into view, Sajit manning the MG-42 while Paxton drives. Tanya rides shotgun, armed with an X-17.
290 EXT. BALCONY
Just above street level, Max, Anderson, Mike, Phil, and Burton watch as the jeep takes up a position in the middle of the road.
291 EXT. COLONY STREET -- CONT'D
Sajit opens fire as dozens of Pfhor swarm towards them. Tanya keeps the rocket launcher aimed skywards, watching for targets.
ANGLE FROM BELOW as a Pfhor shuttle appears. A rocket impacts against the bottom of its hull, activating a flickering energy shield.
The shuttle pivots, a pair of plasma cannons locking onto the jeep.
292 EXT. JEEP
Tanya looks up for a moment, then grabs Paxton.
Tanya:
"FLOOR IT!!"
Paxton hammers the controls and the vehicle surges forward.
It's not fast enough. The shuttle's fire grazes the rear end and impacts the pavement, flipping the jeep onto its left side. Tanya rolls out from under it as it falls, bringing the X-17 to a firing position.
293 POV -- EXT. COLONY STREET
Burton's view through the M1903A4's scope. We see Tanya fire her second rocket just before Burton swings the rifle up, catching the rocket as it hits the shuttle.
Mike (O.S.):
"Let's go! Get ready to lay down suppressing fire!"
294 EXT. BALCONY/COLONY STREET
Mike jumps over the handrail and hits the ground running, followed by the other Recons. Overhead, the shuttle swings around and heads toward a taller building two streets away.
Mike and Phil reach the jeep as Tanya and Sajit try to roll the vehicle. The others throw their weight against it, lifting it enough for Anderson to pull Paxton out from under the wreck.
Max turns and waves.
Max:
"Medic, over here! Now!"
A nervous-looking BOB runs out of the building they were positioned around, carrying a bulky MEDICAL KIT.
Medic BOB:
"Who's been hurt?"
Tanya:
"Paxton. His right leg was pinned under the jeep."
The medic crouches and takes a look.
Medic BOB:
"We need to get him inside. You and you, help me carry him!"
Sajit and Anderson position themselves on either side of Paxton, lifting him as the medic administers a painkiller.
Mike picks up the MG-42, its ammunition belt dangling. He turns to the others.
Phil:
"Any ideas?"
Max shakes his head.
Tanya:
"At this rate the only way anyone's going to win is through total attrition. If we could somehow cut off their reinforcements, it might buy us enough time to deal with the forces they've already deployed."
Mike looks towards the sky.
Mike:
"So how do we cut off their reinforcements? We don't exactly have a cruiser handy."
Tanya follows his gaze.
Tanya:
"No, but we do have the alien ships... Max, where have they been trying to land?"
Max shrugs.
Max:
"So far the pattern seems to be largely random. Have we got anything we can use as bait?"
Phil:
"I've got an idea. Come on, help me flip this thing!"
The four brace themselves and heave. The jeep rocks, lifts, and falls upright with a crash.
Mike:
"Okay... Everybody in!"
295 INT. BUILDING ENTRANCE
Burton and Anderson watch the hover-jeep leave as Sajit helps the medic treat Paxton. several other BOBs stand guard.
Burton:
"You saw the way they flipped that jeep?"
Anderson:
"Yeah, like it didn't weigh a damn thing... Constant exercise, my ass. Why d'you suppose they were brought here?"
Burton glances at him and checks the Springfield's safety.
Burton:
"I don't know, and frankly I don't care. They're saving our backsides and I'm not about to let you start spreading unfounded paranoia here... so shut it, already. Got that?"
Anderson nods coldly and walks into the back of the building. Burton watches him go with growing concern.
296 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- WIDE TUNNEL
Jones hugs the wall, light panning over the bizarre shapes and patterns. It leads to another massive, empty room. He backtracks.
297 INT. PFHOR SHIP -- OUTER HULL
Jones returns to the spot where he beamed aboard and looks out at the Marathon. A few moments later, he is teleported out.
298 INT. PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM
Jones goes to the nearest terminal and logs on, wondering what Durandal will say about his latest adventure.
Durandal (O.S., filtered):
"Your trip to the Pfhor ship was a success. I have learned valuable information. You may have noticed that the Pfhor ship has a weak artificial gravity field. The resultant gravity is lower than the Marathon's. The Pfhor gravity generators also create a pulsating magnetic field which interferes with your motion sensor.
I will be sending you back there shortly, but first you must do something for me and get some more ammunition at the same time.
I want you to find a friend of mine. I must know if he is dead. His name is Bernard Strauss. If he has been captured, you must rescue him. If he dies, you will be held responsible by me."
Jones:
"Strauss? The Science Director?"
Durandal (O.S.):
"That's right. Now get going."
Jones hits the standby button and climbs down a ladder behind him.
299 INT. SUPPORT SPACE
A large, well-lit room with several support pillars arrayed along the walls. The public access room is in fact inside a larger pillar in the center.
Jones drops to the floor as a BOB comes around the corner to his right. The BOB whips up his .44, then eases off when he sees it's another human.
BOB #1:
"Finally! I thought they'd never send someone down here!"
Jones:
"Better late than never, I guess. Have you seen Bernard Strauss recently?"
Another BOB breaks cover, slinging her MA-75.
BOB #2:
"The Science Director? He came through here with a security detail about eighty minutes ago, and there was a pretty loud firefight in the next section a little after that. They gave us some guns and told us to secure this place until reinforcements arrived."
Jones:
"Much as I hate to say it, I'm probably the only reinforcement you're going to get. You got any serious casualties?"
BOB #1:
"We lost three guys about half an hour ago; the aliens don't seem to be taking many prisoners now."
Jones:
"Damn... That means we'd better move."
BOB #3:
"Apart from a lack of ammunition, we're ready when you are."
Jones turns to see a third BOB with an assault rifle covering him from atop a stack of supply crates.
Jones:
"You're in luck."
He starts teleporting his spare ammo onto the floor and handing it out.
300 INT. EMERGENCY BULKHEAD SECTION
Jones takes point, leading the BOBs up a STAIRCASE that curves 90 degrees to the left. The group emerges into a large room with an EMERGENCY DECOMPRESSION BULKHEAD dividing it. The bulkhead is partially raised, forming a low barrier between the BOBs and the Pfhor Wasps and Fighters on the other side.
Jones:
"Cover!"
The BOBs dive behind the bulkhead as Jones shoots down two of the Wasps. The Fighters hurl shockstaff blasts, impacting Jones' shields as the BOBs pop up long enough to fire short, suppressing bursts.
301 POV -- INT. EMERGENCY BULKHEAD SECTION
The BOBs' two MA-75s and single .44 bark and chatter as Jones drops behind the barrier.
Jones:
“Fire in the hole!”
302 INT. EMERGENCY BULKHEAD SECTION / ADJACENT ROOM
Jones primes an assault rifle grenade and throws it over the barrier. There is an explosion and meaty chunks of Pfhor fly over the group's heads.
Jones:
“Up and over!”
He swings a leg over the bulkhead. BOBs 2 and 3 lay down covering fire as Jones and BOB #1 hop over the barrier and take up positions on either side of a jammed floor-up type BLAST DOOR set in the wall to the right of the bulkhead.
303 INT. JUNCTION
Pfhor Fighters and Troopers train weapons on the gap between the jammed door and its frame. There is a momentary pause, then Jones' hand appears and tosses a small CYLINDER into the room.