CAPTION:
NO-BODY'S SPACE
IN JUMPS/BLINKS a big TRADESHIP (300m? elegantly flattened cylinder, rows of small WINDOWS) with a 'spaceship+sun' ENSIGN, in a sorry state: slowly TUMBLING, weakened SHIELD glitching, SCORCH MARKS & GASHES on its gray&white hull (several pouring SMOKE), most (small, point-defense) WEAPONS disabled, ENGINES sputtering...
Large lettering on a side:
CICADA
Ore-carrier
Terminus
Flying gravel & dust IMPACT the shield, leaving bright STREAKS.
FADE IN:
10 Jumps from the Four Kingdoms
Tumbling WORSENS. Lights flashing, big (round) CARGO DOORS open (more or less fully) RELEASING huge colorful ROCK/GRAVEL/DUST/ICE streams/clouds in intertwining SPIRALS, as the ship slowly leaves 'em BEHIND.
IN JUMP/BLINK 5 fast well-armed WARSHIPS (old, patched-up, 30-90m, varied makes/paints), 1 of 'em (bulbous-disk-shaped) half-inside the ore CLOUDS!
The unlucky pursuer BLINK-EXPLODES (leaving only a few DISTORTED barely recognizable FRAGMENTS) as its 4 companions EVADE the greatly perturbed clouds!
3 of 'em (incl. 1 manta-ray-like) start firing their BLAST CANNONS at the lumbering CICADA, piercing its shields/hull, setting it ABLAZE!!
From the 4th (quiescent, w/ a painted 2-electron atom stylized SYMBOL) GUNBOAT:
(Off Screen RADIO, imperative)
Hold your fire!
We need that ship!!
HOLD YOUR FIRE!!!
The CICADA serial-EXPLODES in a great (orange-red) FIREBALL!
CAPTION:
4 MONTHS LATER
A CLOUDY brown-gray mountainous PLANET, half-covered in SNOW.
FADE IN:
LUCREZA
FADE IN:
Independent
mining Outpost
POPULATION: 75000
In its orbit:
A modest TORUS STATION (450m radius? rusty, worn/repaired, few lights), with 10+ PARKED or flying 'round SHIPS/shuttles (of all makes, ages & sizes).
FADE IN:
(formerly
Winter sports Emporium)
Floating nearby:
Newer/shinier than everything else, a MASSIVE lightly-armed (slender cannon turrets) FREIGHTER (prismatic, tanker-like, twice as long/wide as the CICADA) with a big 'spaceship+sun' LOGO, (array of 8) engines idle, most lights OFF.
FADE IN:
15 Jumps from the Four Kingdoms
At the shadowy far end (where the BAR meets the wall) sits a lone TRADER (tall, pale, clean, 50s, officer CAP, long COAT, tiny golden EARRING) nursing his Antarean WHISKY.
The TVs SWITCH to NEWSREELS, incl. a Military PARADE, a space BATTLE...
Cleaning dishes:
(neutral?)
Foundation won another big battle against wannabe conquerors.
They control the Fleets of the old 4 Kingdoms, plus, directly or indirectly, another 2 or 3 neighbors, don't they? And their 'civilian' Tradeships are armed.
Drinking (golden RING on finger):
Everybody's got the right to defend themselves! Their prospective clients are as likely to believe them gods as to attack them.
That so? Many 'round these corners would love that kind of protection, even if they had to bargain their souls to the...
ENTERING, Blaster HOLSTER visible thru his open mid-length (old, stained) COAT:
(late-40s, tiny SCARS on cheek, sun-tanned, expansive)
That is my favorite seat in the whole joint!
Letting his coat OPEN ever-so-slightly, hand CLOSE to his holstered BLASTER:
TAKING a nearby empty seat:
(smiles)
This is my second favorite seat.
A dust-cleaner, please. Here's some Funds.
He leaves a few finely-engraved CERAMIC COINS (glassy, with the 'spaceship+sun' on the back) on the bar, similar to the handful in front of:
BARTENDER puts a big JAR full of (purplish) clear liquid in front of:
They go a long way out here, where few authorities are trusted or bother come. Big-pocketed Traders, on the other hand...
He DRINKS deep.
Offering his GLASS:
Han Smyte, First Officer of the merchanter Long Shot, taking a well-deserved rest after many fruitful months of maiden voyage before the trip back home.
The Lorisan Navy was auctioning surplus assets on the cheap. A group of private investors bought some old ships, traded their Weaponry for cubic kilometers of extra cargo space, and sent 'em out to conquer new Markets.
Offering his JAR (the 2-electron atom SYMBOL tattooed on his wrist):
To free enterprise! Cros Boyd. I left everything behind to captain the New Worlds, a fast Scout hunting for bargains far from stifling Bureaucracies and Taxes.
DRINKING:
Holding his glass for BARTENDER to REFILL:
No longer dusty: a few years ago, air humidity reached a tipping point. Now Terminus City gets mud rains instead of dust storms. Seldon's big new statue needed its foundations reinforced.
Sipping his glass:
They'll fix the Climate sooner or later. Not a worry for the many who have become interstellar Traders. Commerce has reached all-time highs, money and Technologies flow, industries and population grow exponentially. It's the dawn of a new era!
Emptying his JAR:
Yeah. When they lost a 3rd of it in a string of fruitless attacks against the combined forces of the 4 Kingdoms, another of their neighbors seized the chance to conquer half their territory. The Foundation brokered a cease fire that's lasted nearly a decade, while Peace talks and rebuilding slowly advance.
That was at 1 of Anacreon's old allies, when they declared war on Terminus with Hardin still as Mayor. Their own people toppled their military dictatorship and offered renewed Alliance and Trade with the 4 Kingdoms, much to everyone's benefit.
Nursing a newly filled JAR:
(serious)
It's always the same, I see: the Foundation never attacks, but its reputation of invincibility grows, supported by their superior firepower and fanatic cult of Manifest Destiny!
Drinking:
Nobody's fault that Seldon used his Science of Psycho-History to calculate the most likely future developments and choose Terminus and its people for building a new Galactic Empire when the Old finally falls. [+]
Commoners are tired of so much conflict, obviously, even if their Warlords aren't. Peace and riches are too alluring for 'em, perhaps a phony Religion of Science is a small price to pay... There's only 1 problem.
He takes a long DRAUGHT.
(intense)
The Foundation, in its lust for power, is betraying Hari Seldon and his great Plan!
Sir, scansweep's detected several bogeys just beyond visual range!
A PLAQUE on a wall:
LONG SHOT
*
Terminus
2 unattended screens showing docudrams/team sports.
In a corner, an active RADAR-like screen, manned.
CHECKING data:
(mid-20s, w/ big tech-y HEADPHONES w/ antennae + telltale LIGHTS)
Yes, Sir: 4! No: 5! They seem armed, and the Station's Register doesn't have 'em!
BACK TO:
Blaster in hand, squarely AIMED:
He SHOOTS before TRADER can AIM his hastily-unholstered Blaster!
WHAM! The lightning-like BLAST hits TRADER's chest, BUMPING him against the wall, while his whole body GLOWS faintly!
BARTENDER ducks out of sight!
Recovering, AIMING:
He FIRES at the LUNGING HUNTER, catching him in the face with a KRAK!
HUNTER's head & body GLOW too!
Staggering, temporarily blind:
EVADING him towards the EXIT:
Still dazed, Blaster aimlessly POINTING:
I know the Foundation's tricks! You can run, but you can't hide! Psycho-History is on my side!
EXITING fast:
HUNTER BURSTS out of the Restaurant, Blaster READY.
Passersby look at:
A PIRATE TOUGH on the floor, holding his lower chest in PAIN, his well-worn Blaster + Trader's CAP nearby.
As HUNTER helps him GET UP:
He runs ahead, cautiously SCOUTS the next corner, checks a small BLINKING gadget.
(shouting)
Wanna know the truth, Trader? It's all in the Findings I submitted to the University and the Mayor's Office a decade ago!
Blaster in hand, TOUGH joins him. They summarily CHECK lateral corridors, climb STAIRS, advance towards a SIGN announcing:
CARGO BAYS
Portmaster
Repair Services
TRADER climbs a vertical LADDER. Far up: a grille TRAPDOOR.
I was a respected Academic! I studied every warship and derelict in the 4 Kingdoms for years!
CHECKING every corner:
(loud)
Ever set foot on the great BattleCruiser Verisof, formerly known as Wien? It was an eye-opener!
CHECKING the other EXITS:
That's where I spent the most time, and made the biggest discoveries!
Approaching 1 grille TRAPDOOR while TOUGH nears another:
Should have listened to that rascal Aporat when he tried to dissuade me!
Blaster pointed, he OPENS the trapdoor! TOUGH opens the other!
NOTHING in both shafts, except Trader's discarded COAT.
Confirming a recent GREASY STAIN on the coat with his BLINKING gadget:
(angry)
By Seldon!
He DROPS the coat.
Boarding it:
Sparks! Start Run manoeuvers!
The massive Freighter REVVS engines, starts ponderously MOVING, lights rippling.
Trader's boat RACES to catch it.
COMING from every corner, the same 3 Warships that attacked the Cicada (+ a 4th cannon-carrying TUGBOAT-like addition) APPEAR, aiming to intercept!
Hunter's GUNBOAT appears from behind the Torus!
The Freighter ACCELERATES slowly.
Trader's boat ENTERS a just-opened AFT CARGO DOOR.
WORKING screens, DIALS, menus:
LIMPING fast:
We don't have minutes!
SWITCH TO:
Their BOLTS hit the Freighter's INTENSIFYING Shield! (w/ little effect)
BACK TO:
The ship RUMBLES! Everything SHAKES! Consoles LIGHT UP with hurried DISPLAYS!
Re: the IDLE Plotting Console:
Turning a corner:
On my way!
In front, a big DOOR labeled:
ENGINEERING
KEEP OUT!
The powerful BOLTS hit the Freighter's Shield, SPLASHING it wide & DEEP!
(alarmed)
We're trapped!
SWITCH TO:
Quickly WORKING dials & Consoles:
(intense)
Brace for IMPACT!
He PUSHES multiple (2x8, small) control LEVERS to the max!
BACK TO:
At full impulse, the massive Freighter RAMS the Pirate tugboat with a loud CLANG!
Amid SCREECHES & SPARKS, the Tugboat is BUMPED aside, starts TUMBLING!
Its companions chase & STRAFE!
SWITCH TO:
HOLD ON!
He SMASHES a big yellow BUTTON near a busy Plotting sub-Console.
BACK TO:
The running Freighter BLINKS/JUMPS OUT!
TOUGH SHOWS a rugged PAD (w/ situational MAP) to:
HUNTER, enraged, KICKS Trader's coat!
A small PHOTO falls out.
He retrieves it as his Gunboat DOCKS in.
It's a GIRL in ship's FINERY (long hair, officer CAP, with a big ship's busy CARGO DECK as background). On the back, neat HANDWRITING:
It's a big,
big world! :)
HUNTER + TOUGH hurry to BOARD their ship.
BACK TO:
The tumbling slightly-dented Tugboat RIGHTS itself.
Is everyone OK? Prepare to give chase!
TICK.
A small wheel skips a beat, SPINS out of control, floats/caroms free, landing on another area w/ bigger wheels, jamming them!
A grinding NOISE as everything SHUDDERS, STOPS.
IN JUMPS/BLINKS the Freighter, prow slightly SCRAPED/MASHED, Shields still GLOWING, engines still pushing HARD.
Open MEDKIT to his side, TRADER finishes bandaging his ANKLE.
Captain won't like it! First, we stopped there for R & R on your suggestion, despite you being the newest Officer, and now this! We could have hit a planet! Or, or...!
I have a stellar record, with plenty experience. I had precomputed this Route, just in case the place wasn't as safe as our Reports suggested. Luckily a long Run wasn't required.
TESTING his foot:
Of course: soon as we're sure those rogues and their warships are no longer there, waiting for us.
The Foundation won't risk a Diplomatic incident so far from its own Borders, kid. We need to...
Alarms BLARE!
Re: situational Console w/ map + ship VECTORS:
IN JUMP/BLINK the 5 Pirate ships (1 by 1) a fair distance BEHIND the still RUNNING Freighter.
Wasting no time, they ACCELERATE in pursuit, start FIRING!
BACK TO:
Swiftly WORKING the Plotting Console, choosing options & COORDINATES:
He PUSHES a big yellow BUTTON near the Console.
The Freighter ACCELERATES too, on a curved path, then BLINKS/JUMPS OUT!
BLINK TO:
IN JUMPS/BLINKS the Freighter, still accelerating, TURNING into a NEW vector.
BLINK BACK TO:
Re: his Console:
Again WORKING the Plotting Console:
He MASHES the big yellow BUTTON!
Still alone, the Freighter BLINKS/JUMPS OUT!
BLINK TO:
IN JUMPS/BLINKS the Freighter, ACCELERATING in a new direction.
BLINK BACK TO:
The Freighter BLINKS/JUMPS OUT!
BLINK TO:
IN JUMPS/BLINKS the Freighter.
BLINK BACK TO:
This should be enough: it will take 'em a while to search a million cubic light-years. Meanwhile, let's plot a safe Route back to friendly space!
Checking his star CATALOG:
The things that guy said, about betraying Seldon and all... can they be true? I mean, we're out here for money and Science and the future of mankind, but if the Foundation chooses wrong...
Pausing his Console work:
Don't think so. Guess evildoers also look in the mirror each morning and tell themselves they're doing the right thing. But Psycho-History works with significant masses of people, and simple individuals weigh too little to alter the calculations.
But how do we know Seldon didn't lie about that too? Some people I met at the Academy question...
IN JUMP/BLINK the 5 Pirate ships! (a fair distance AROUND the leisurely traveling Freighter)
BACK TO:
Not him again!!
WORKING (several Consoles) fast:
He PUSHES multiple control LEVERS (2x8, arranged like the engine array) in front of the HELM Console.
The ponderously accelerating Freighter BLINKS/JUMPS OUT!
BLINK TO:
IN JUMPS/BLINKS the Freighter, still MANOEUVERING.
BLINK BACK TO:
Some overall RUMBLING.
So this is why pay's so good and Insurance premiums so expensive! And why the Trading Guild wants everyone be armed and everyone is joining 'em!
Feverishly working a (main) CONSOLE:
Space is dangerous business! But these aren't common Pirates. More than a dozen of our Tradeships have vanished in this Sector in the past few years.
Eyes on the (quiet) Situational/Radar Console:
Yes, but the afflicted ships used to be small, and were often turned to Piracy. Recent cases have been bigger, and nobody's seen 'em again. Some carried valuable cargo, others not so much. The latest was a repurposed ex-military, like us.
Console Screen:
Operational Security
EXECUTIVE OVERRIDE
BACK TO:
With a top-notch Captain and Crew for bulk cargo no pirate could sell at a profit. We carry nothing. I think there's a trend!
Console Screen:
DANGER!
License may be voided!
Proceed (y/n)?
Slipping 1 of his (flat oblong metal) DOGTAGS under the Console's DATAPORT:
10-20 flat undertable DRAWERS & tall wall (utilitarian) CABINETS unlock.
IN JUMP/BLINK the 5 Pirate ships!
2 PILOTS/GUNMEN piloting/readying Weapons. Their prey little more than a shiny moving DOT.
Right behind 'em, from his Captain high chair, making "swirl" GESTURES with his hand:
(fierce)
Surrender now, Traders!
Behind him, TOUGH readies a bunch of nasty-looking GEAR (oversize Blasters, magnetic Harpoons, a wire NET, knives, AXES...), smiles.
BACK TO:
OPENING a wall CABINET full of heavy-duty CABLING:
(loud)
We'll never be a part of your machinery of pillage and destruction!
This is only the means to an end! I was left no other options!
(angry)
I was labeled a crackpot, my Research grants revoked, my career ruined for defending the truth of my Results!
BACK TO:
I should be leading the High Energies Department at Terminus University, but the powers that be didn't like the implications of my Theories!
Applying a SEQUENCE of KEYS from an old "safety" KEYRING to cautiously MANIPULATE different color-coded (big, mechanical) CIRCUIT-BREAKERS:
(loud)
How so? Explain yourself!
SPARKS cautiously MANIPULATES another CABINET.
They want a flawed Second Empire, with a suffocating monopoly on Nucleics production, same as Trantor exerted! That was a key factor in the general degradation of such vital know-how!
BACK TO:
But natural Nucleics are found in many places, even if mining them is not...
Most mines aren't rich enough, and most planets need amounts of Energy and specialized materials that only advanced Nucleosynthesis can yield.
SLIDING out an undertable (dusty?) rugged CODED KEYBOARD:
(sober)
The Law of Minimum Effort, the same that gave veto power on planetside Nucleics to the Imperial Fleet, to better keep their Conquests under control!
BACK TO:
He gingerly CLICKS an oversize "master" key. The others all LIGHT UP! (in groups, labels like 'Aim', 'Track', 'Auto', 'Fire'...)
I thought all these had been dismantled and resold!?
The big Axial ones, yes. The rest was only disabled, but with the right activation Codes...
Re: rippling field SCANNER:
The Pirate Manta-Ray SHOOTS too, grazing the Freighter's Shield!
Thru 10+ of its open ports, the Freighter FIRES unseen "mil-spec mid-range" weapons BACK!! (fixed-path Cannon-Blasts SLIP thru the not-so-hard Shield, barely DEFOCUSING)
1 of the Blasts MISSES the evading Manta-Ray!
Another GRAZES the Pirate Tugboat's Shield! (w/ minimal effect)
A powerful BOLT forces Hunter's Gunboat to wildly JERK AWAY!
All the Pirates start SHOOTING at full power!
The Freighter's Shield ABSORBS most of the incoming BOLTS!
Everything SHAKES!! Sparks FLY!!!
Both PILOTS/GUNMEN piloting/shooting.
(thundering)
BOARD 'EM!!
BACK TO:
The Pirate Warships MANOEUVER around the Freighter's slowly revolving SHOOTING ALLEYS, closing IN, firing ever stronger BLASTS against its Shields! (some reach the hull, causing DAMAGE)
A big BOLT hits the Pirate Tugboat (thru its Shielding) with a sizable EXPLOSION!
Hunter's Gunboat daringly BARRELS towards its prey, FIRING non-stop!!!
The Manta-Ray flies too close to the BOLT STREAKS: 1 of them PIERCES its wing, BLOWING (half of) it UP!!
Quick! Match velocities!
(to his back)
Ready the Field Resonator!
TOUGH presses a SEQUENCE of buttons on a BOXY (prototype contraption-y) MACHINE filling half the back of the ship.
BACK TO:
The Gunboat's Shield (slightly distorted) KISSES the Freighter's, (SLO-MO) distorting/FUSING with it, until the Gunboat SLIPS inside!
Both hastily WORKING several "battle" KEYBOARDS:
A faint CLANNGG resounds.
BACK TO:
The Gunboat firmly ANCHORED on the Freighter's hull.
Disable 'em!
TOUGH presses more BUTTONS on the BOXY MACHINE!
Consoles FAILING around 'em, TRADER & SPARKS are OVERCOME by a loud EXCRUCIATINGLY SCREECHING WAIL/ROAR!
Both PRESS their pained ears, DROP to the floor, DISCARD their ear-comms!
Everything goes DARK.
BACK TO:
The Freighter no longer firing, the other Pirates all reach its hull, each near an OPENING.
Blaster in hand, ACTIVATING his personal Shield:
Follow me! For the Galaxy!
The Canopy OPENS (w/ a hiss).
WATCHING the darkened main DOOR:
Rummaging DRAWERS & BOXES around the back end:
FISHING out a few Blaster RIFLES, GUNS & CARTRIDGES:
He TAKES 2 of each, HANDS more to:
ACTIVATING his personal Shield:
That's kinda the point, kid, though Shields will make it harder, if they all carry 'em. Venting the whole ship to space may not work for the same reason, but perhaps some well-placed shots can persuade them to leave us alone.
SPARKS, unconvinced, ACTIVATES his personal Shield too, WEIGHS his weaponry.
RE: a couple smallish Blaster-like GUNS:
These are prototype zap guns for the non-lethal Market: can stun a target thru their personal Shield, should they get close enough.
GRABBING 1:
LOADING cartridges into his RIFLE:
He EXITS the door. SPARKS follows...
Several BLASTS enter as they HURRY BACK!!
TAKING POSITION w/ his rifle behind a Console overlooking the door:
SPARKS ZAPS him from behind!
TRADER (slowly) COLLAPSES to the floor, half-unconscious, eyeing:
He DROPS his weapons, KNEELS.
FADE TO BLACK.
CAPTION:
12 Jumps and 2 weeks later
On a long CRATE (w/ blankets) sleeps, disheveled & chained, TRADER (dirty, unshaven).
LIGHT beyond the door INCREASES. It OPENS.
He STIRS, opens bleary eyes.
In STROLLS, hand on blaster holster:
Feeling reasonable today? I expected you'd be smarter, after the way you surprised us. The precariousness of your position should be evident, but you keep trying to escape?
(gesturing 'round)
Here you got air, water, gravity, radiation shielding... much better than the vacuum of Space! You should be grateful, even useful!
(growl)
Go kiss a star. You're all dead soon as a Foundation warfleet gets your sorry ass on their sights!
Yeah, and the Galactic Spirit watches over us all? What a shameful lack of vision. Time to remedy that: Guard!
A GUARD peeks from outside.
EXITING:
The GUARD pushes TRADER (still chained) a few steps behind HUNTER.
They cross a sturdy PRESSURE DOOR. A few curves ahead, another.
At last, behind yet another sturdy DOOR, the open space + bright LIGHT of:
A thick SHIELD protecting the far side, open to SPACE.
TOUGH stands by Hunter's GUNBOAT.
Climbing aboard:
Get him!
TOUGH 'helps' TRADER up & into the back.
A Pilot ACTIVATES the ship, lowers its canopy...
The GUARD hastily RETREATS to the corridor, CLOSES the door!
The Gunboat HOVERS towards the Shield, which DISSOLVES (center 1st) then re-FORMS as the ship RUNS away.
A Planet existed here once. This field's natural Nucleics were mined out centuries ago. [+]
It's a DENSE ASTEROID FIELD, w/ plenty DUST, some LARGE (slowly tumbling) ROCKS, a RED DWARF beyond, some SHIPS coming/going/working...
Nobody will come looking. But if they do come, and notice some Nucleic radiation, we can claim we found a hidden vein, and are using our own ships to mine it.
The Gunboat FLIES past several of the (parked, repairing?) Pirate WARSHIPS, + 10+ more (of diverse makes & sizes).
Of course we can Jump anywhere we please on short notice. This is only another of many temporary Bases we've used these years.
Approaching a HUGE FLOATING MOUNTAIN:
But it may be the last, as our work nears completion!
On the other side, under a big (faint) Shield:
A BIG BOXY (prismatic) cargo SHIP w/ the 2-electron EMBLEM.
At its side, (barely bigger):
The BIG FREIGHTER (a bit DISMANTLED) showing GLIMPSES of the Imperial warship it once was.
APPROACHING 'EM:
Your ship has been very useful for parts, thanks to which we've progressed fast, despite having to tweak most Control systems. Alas, we've been unable to leverage its greatest asset, a jewel whose size isn't easily found among Civilian craft.
A fine sample of Down-Conversion from a bigger and much hotter model. It shut down not 8 hours after arrival. Your man claims it needs some Executive Codes to start burning Nucleics again, or it will sit cold as an expensive piece of shiny junk.
(grim)
Make no mistake: he saved your life when we ignored such Security level existed. He's been useful with mid-level stuff, Consoles and such, but hardly anymore, if Traders change Communication Codes as frequently as he says.
The ship FLIES close OVER the big Freighter.
Maybe not. He's young and eager, but inexperienced. Want to tell him and pretty much end his usefulness, or you'll take the chance to earn your upkeep and his?
Go ask the Transportation Secretary at the Office of the Mayor of Terminus to issue you new Codes. He'll be happy to restart the ship once it's rescued. He'd have gladly sold you 10, if only you'd asked, you madman!
The ship SLOWS almost to a halt.
We're gonna land, and I'm gonna Blast your man in the face before throwing you both to the Void, unless I can use that complementary Energy source to snowball and counterbalance my Primary Powerplant, which will save us months of circuitous efforts while the Galaxy awaits crumbling around us!
(smug)
The Empire's great dirty secret, and now the Foundation's: their biggest ships could generate their own Nucleics with little more than simple gases and Advanced Physics, but only a few did because the rest had their Powerplants capped or downgraded!
The ship ENTERS 1 of the Freighter's big CARGO HOLDS thru its missing (Shielded) door.
(sober)
Or a stranglehold on the lifeblood of all the civilized worlds in a subservient Galaxy. Of course, with the requisite resources and knowledge, I can Up-Convert any Secondary powerplant, as Terminus did. I will outcompete 'em on every Market!
The Foundation provided the start, but the New Empire must be better and stronger than the Old, or we'll be back to square 1!
The ship LANDS. Its canopy OPENS (w/ a hiss).
RISING from his high seat, Blaster in hand:
TRADER (w/ only hands chained) WALKS cautiously along, avoiding STUFF on the floor, followed by the LAMP-carrying TOUGH + HUNTER.
They turn a corner.
W/ his own LAMP, in front of the big DOOR labeled:
ENGINEERING
KEEP OUT!
They enter the:
TRADER opens TOOLBOXES with parts, tools, gadgets...
The BIG FREIGHTER activates its many LIGHTS!
General (radio) CHEER!
TRADER, head between his hands, sits on the modest BED, his ankle CHAINED to it.
In front, a small SCREEN (w/ tiny Foundation 'spaceship+sun' LOGO) inset on the wall.
FLASHBACK:
A little GIRL (long-haired, vaguely resembling the earlier PHOTO) tucked into bed, almost ready to sleep.
His CAP on her nightstand besides the star-projection LAMP + a uniformed DOLL + a hand-written/decorated paper 'badge' of
Captain
LIA, a younger & sunnier TRADER fast-flips titles on his PAD, reading 'em sotto:
Hari Seldon's Life
The Asteroid Trolls
Anacreonian History
Princess & Pirate
The Hardin Legacy
Dragons of Santanni
Book of Spirit
Witches in the Woods
The (playful) little GIRL keeps shaking her head 'NO'.
(smiling)
No. Not boring monsters!
He keeps FLIPPING titles, slower:
Technique of Jump Calculation
Engineering for Propulsion
Introduction to Nucleics
Rocketry vs Gravitics
At his touch, a small HOLO appears over the PAD, portraying different exquisitely detailed 'vintage' SHIP MODELS.
The little girl SMILES.
(reading)
'The earliest known use of Gravitics on a spaceship dates back to...'
BACK TO:
A TEAR rolling down his cheek, TRADER stands (straining his chain), uses his DOGTAGS to PRY LOOSE the screen's FRAME.
A distorted 'radio' BEEP. Another. Random CLICKING. Breathing-like radio NOISE.
Queen B? Rooster here!
Several SHIPS (of diverse makes, sizes & banners) around.
I'm sending this thru the ship's Emergency Relay.
Things didn't go as planned, sorry.
In its orbit, a Foundation CRUISER + 10+ smaller WARSHIPS.
Sparks went rogue, and I'm prisoner at their hideout.
Not far, 2 sizable Foundation TRADESHIPS exchanging news & GOODS.
This is much bigger than we guessed!
A big Foundation PYRAMID.
Please respond!
Space! You're alive!? We've all been looking for you!!
Your Captain reported you for stealing her ship, stranding her and her crew! She was my friend!!
That's how you repay the favor we did you? The Guild disowned you too, don't expect 'em to pay your debts!
The coordinates of your signal point halfway into the neighboring Province...
...too far for us to send any significant help, even if the Council allowed it.
I told you: Agents have limits! You reckless wannabe weren't qualified!
I had to do something! For my daughter! For us all!
These are the fiends that destroyed the Cicada, among others. Their leader is a former Academic from Terminus!
He's rebuilding an Imperial warship's Primary powerplant. He found the people, he found the parts. He'll be ready to move in weeks!
If the Foundation doesn't want everybody out there, every hostile Power, every Warlord...
...to get the secret of generating their own Nucleics, they need to act now.
We don't need Psycho-History for this. Countless lives are in danger. Just send the Signal.
I'm ready to go. Perhaps those old starry-eyed Priests are right and the Galactic Spirit has my Lia cradled in His bosom.
At a small Console:
Priority Command
Then:
Control Loop
DISABLED
Then:
Core Cycle
OVERDRIVE
Then (blinking):
Warranty
VOIDED!
TRADER on the bed, resting.
Alarms SOUND!
He opens his eyes, looks up, calm.
(ceiling inset) Lights BRIGHTEN & SPARK!!
Nearby, huddled w/ his ENGINEERS around a wide worktable full of SCHEMATICS, measurement GEAR, tools, etc, HUNTER notices:
The sphere GLOWS stronger. Lights GLARE!
His eyes widen as:
The big gears exert PRESSURE against the jam, until the small wheel CRUMBLES, vanishes w/ a flash!
Other wheels SHUDDER, RESTART.
TOCK.
A sizable EXPLOSION!
Everything ENGULFED by a bright new, ephemeral SUN.
FADE TO WHITE.
Great story, like Star Trek!
ReplyDeleteGuilty as charged! P-}
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