Author Topic: FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves  (Read 4146 times)

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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Hey guys, I've moved my script from the general forums to here. Seemed a bit weird to just leave it there. Anyway, I've added a new update to this one. Now you can witness the insanity when it's all strung together!

WARNING: THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS COARSE LANGUAGE AND SEXUAL REFERNCES

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1) EXT. DENEB –- 2.28.2335

FADE IN: Hues of blue and green swirl and coalesce in thick, billowing clouds. Red and yellow run through these colours in thin veins.

SUPER: Universal Studios Presents

A deeper, darker red flows over the other colours. Suddenly, lightning rips across the clouds.

SUPER: A Genesis Films Production

We zoom out from the clouds to reveal the vast green-grey planet of Deneb.

Two Hercules Class I Heavy-Assault Fighters roar overhead. Following behind them we can see several wings of other small craft, as well as a fleet of Freighter Craft, two Fenris Class ships and Orion Class Destroyer.

CUT TO: A BOYISH PILOT of one of the Heavy-Assault Fighters is seated within his craft. He gazes out over the planet in wonder.

BOYISH PILOT
God, nobody ever told me it was so beautiful.

FRIENDLY PILOT (Over the intercom)
Never been to Deneb before?

BOYISH PILOT
No, never.

FRIENDLY PILOT
How does it feel, kid?

BOYISH PILOT (Grinning)
Better than a cold beer and a naked Tahitian.

FRIENDLY PILOT
Ha! You haven’t been away from home for too long then. Trust me. After a while, you’d take a piss on the glory of the Horsehead for a chance to even dream of those things.

BOYISH PILOT
Something to look forward to then.

Both pilots laugh.

There is a brief silence.

BOYISH PILOT
Thank you for that.

FRIENDLY PILOT
You're nervous, huh?

BOYISH PILOT
Well... yeah. I've been in skirmishes before, but nothing as big as this. Fighting toe-to-toe with the Shivans... it scares me.

FRIENDLY PILOT
I'd think you were crazy if it didn't. Catching a Shivan fleet unawares is damn hard, and when you do it they get mad as hell. We're going to have to move fast.

BOYISH PILOT
I know.

FRIENDLY PILOT
Sorry, I sound just like Command.

BOYISH PILOT
That a bad thing?

FRIENDLY PILOT
How could it be good?

Blue-White flashes suddenly blossom in the distance for the briefest of moments.

COMMAND (Over the Intercom)
Shivan presence confirmed. All wings, engage the enemy.

FRIENDLY PILOT (Sighing)
Come on kid, time to light em’ up.

BOYISH PILOT
Yeah…

The BOYISH PILOT digs into his pocket and produces a small disc. He presses a button on the top. A hologram appears. It is a 3d image of a young woman, smiling softly. The bottom of the disc says: “Jayna”.

The pilot presses a button on his flight controls, the after-burners engage, filling the screen with their white-hot light.

SUPER: The Battle of Deneb 2.28.2335

Adrift in whiteness, we hear the sounds of the battle of Deneb. The high-pitched whine of the Fighters contrasted with the heavy thunder of the Plasma Cannons and the other-worldly buzz of the Shivans. Over the top of it, we start to hear the sound of somebody hyper-ventilating. Soon all sound is reduced to nothing, and all that can be heard is the breathing of the Boyish Pilot.

BOYISH PILOT
Oh God! He’s on my six! I can’t shake him!

(A Beat)

BOYISH PILOT
****! Where is he?! I can’t see anything!

(Another Beat)

BOYISH PILOT
Please, help me! Help me! I don’t want to die! I’m scared! Help me! For the love of God! Somebody! Hel…

An ear-shattering explosion cuts the words of the pilot short.

There is a five second pause and then the whistling of the wind can be heard. The white rolls back like cloud to reveal the surface of Deneb. It is a barren wasteland. The scattered debris of the Terran fleet can be seen across the landscape.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.)
Thirty-two years have passed since the Great War. The Shivans vanished half a lifetime ago.

We pan past the broken remnants of the fleet. Twisted and scorched metal can be seen everywhere.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
Now we live in the mausoleum of history. We inherit the legacy of ghosts. The elders call us the lost generation.

We move closer to the wreckage. The human toll begins to become apparent. Bleached-white, sand-blasted skeletons dot the plains.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
I remember stories of a glorious civilization. Of cities with spires that reached the sun.

Panning across further we come to a crashed Hercules Class II Fighter/Bomber, the hatch open. A small blue light can be seen flashing.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
And a blue planet, with vast seas.

The small blue light is revealed to be the hologram Jayna, still pathetically clutched in the hand of a skeleton, dressed in full flight gear.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
Of a people with myths of humanity everlasting. Of children who saw, in the burning embers of dying stars, the destiny of their race.

The camera begins to ascend upwards, through the clouds. Out of the atmosphere of the planet.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
And they hurled themselves into the void of space, with no fear.

We see the horizon of the planet of Deneb.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
They say our people have no present. Only a past filled with horror.

The gutted remains of an Orion Class Destroyer passes by; an ugly skeleton.

EDWARD ROSEN (V.O.) [CONT’D]
And a future we can only dream of.

The remains of the Destroyer continue to orbit around Deneb. At one point, the star of Deneb shines through the shattered hulk, filling the screen with white light once more.

SUPER: Dragon Beneath the Waves

2) INT. BEACH SHACK, VEGA III -- DAY

FADE TO: A small seashell necklace gently resting on NALA’s chest. Vibrant spots of light dance on her skin. We begin to slowly pull back.

NALA (O.S.)
(Whispering)
What time is it?

EDWARD (O.S.)
(Whispering back)
Half-Eight.

NALA
(Smiling and stretching)
How long was I asleep?

EDWARD
About six hours.

By now we have pulled back enough to see that EDWARD and NALA lie naked together on a simple bed, facing one another. The room is a wooden shack. Outside the waves can be heard crashing.

EDWARD
(Teasingly)
Guess we worked pretty hard, huh?

NALA
Oh, so its work is it?

EDWARD
The hardest kind anyone ever has to do.

NALA
You think you could try it again?

EDWARD
(Smiling)
Maybe.

They kiss, EDWARD’s hand reaches for NALA’s breast. He comes across the necklace and pauses to lightly feel the shell.

EDWARD
I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you get this? Isn’t it from Earth?

NALA
(Hesitating slightly)
…Yeah. It’s my grandmother’s. She gave it to me before the Jump Node closed.

EDWARD
So… she’s still there?

NALA
My whole family is. I was the only one out of system when the Shivans attacked.

EDWARD
I’m sorry.

NALA
Yeah, you and just about everyone else.

(A beat)

EDWARD
I’ve ruined the mood haven’t I?

NALA
Nah, that’s ok.

There is a silence. We hear the crash of the waves.

NALA
What about… you?

EDWARD
What?

NALA
Do you have any family on Earth?

EDWARD
I… well, I guess my Dad’s there.

NALA
Oh? I… um… thought he died in the Node Collapse?

There is another silence.

EDWARD
Yeah…

Suddenly there is a huge burst of noise, a sound not unlike a harrier jump-jet. Small trinkets fall off shelves, air blasts the door open.

EDWARD
Oh ****.

NALA
Not already!

EDWARD jumps out of bed and pulls on a pair of underpants.

NALA [CONT’D]
Do they have to be such *******s?

EDWARD
(Shrugging whilst putting on pants)
Yeah, it’s military procedure.

EDWARD walks towards the door. His shirt and jacket slung over his shoulder. At the exit he stops and turns back.

EDWARD
Nala, do you want me to write down your serial?

NALA
(Laughing)
Thanks Edward, but I’d rather not have you blowing up halfway across the Alliance Territory and leaving me to cry over a cheap plaque.

EDWARD
I don’t blame you.

3) EXT. BEACH SHACK, VEGA III –- DAY

EDWARD walks away from the shack, kicking at the pitch-black sand. We pan over and see that a large Elysium Class Transport has landed fifty metres away. The door has been opened, a man, called ARAM, in a prim and clean-cut light brown coat steps out.

ARAM
Hey Eddy, time to go.

EDWARD
You’ve got a real knack for timing.

The two of them walk to the Transport.

ARAM
Hey hey, I didn’t plan on dropping by here. This is just a routine Marine Recruit Pick-Up, and we happened to notice your Trace Signal, Command told us to pick you up, so we did.

EDWARD
Uh-huh.

They enter the transport.

4) INT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT –- DAY

EDWARD and ARAM walk through the docking doors. We follow them as they pass two Marines who stand at attention. They travel through a wide passage and then come to a large chamber, where marines sit on benches, strapped to the walls. The ranking Marine, a CAPTAIN, salutes ARAM and EDWARD. They salute back.

ARAM
We’ll launch in one hundred and thirty-five seconds.

CAPTAIN
Thank you, sir.

The Captain then turns to the marines as ARAM and EDWARD walk on.

CAPTAIN
Ok, *******s. We’re going super-strata in one-hundred and ten, so hold on tight and let’s not have any embarrassing accidents like last time, ok?

CUT TO: ARAM and EDWARD come to the control deck; the PILOT seated there turns around.

PILOT
Lieutenant Rosen, right?

EDWARD
Yeah.

PILOT
****, I read about your father at the Academy, it’s an honour to meet you.

EDWARD
Why?

PILOT
Well… because, you know…

EDWARD
I’m not my dad.

PILOT
Yes sir. Sorry.

ARAM
(Rolling his eyes)
Just launch us KJ.

PILOT
Right…

The PILOT presses a multitude of buttons, the engine of the Elysium Transport rumbles to life and the ship begins to take off.

5) EXT. BEACH SHACK, VEGA III –- DAY

NALA leans against the frame of the door, wearing hurriedly-thrown on clothing, looking out as the Transport lifts off.

6) INT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT -- DAY

PILOT casually leans back and activates the intercom.

PILOT
Good morning Marines, I hope you enjoyed your little break, because we’ll be flying the express route to the Aquitaine. That means no tea and biscuits for the next thirty minutes.

CUT TO: The Marines roar and laugh. Some of them give the finger, others mock-masturbate and roll their eyes.

MARINE
And **** you too!

CUT TO: The PILOT at the controls.

PILOT
(Into the intercom)
I hope you pussies can hold out.

ARAM and EDWARD grin.

EDWARD
Do you have to piss them off like that?

PILOT
(Shrugging nonchalantly)
No.

7) EXT. VEGA III STRATOSPHERE –- DAY

The Elysium Transport roars upwards, its blue-gold boosters leaving jets of delicate glittering smoke in its wake.

8) INT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT –- DAY

One of the marines throws up as they rapidly ascend. The others laugh and groan.
[/I]
CAPTAIN
Bana, Jesus!

PILOT
(Over the intercom)
Looks like we have a winner!

CUT TO: The three Pilots at the controls. Through the window we can see the stars rise up as the sky fades away and the Transport reaches low-orbit altitude.

PILOT
You know, my old flight commander used to say that the pull of the afterburners was like God’s way of letting you know where your nuts were.

ARAM
(Grinning)
Almost better than sex!

PILOT
Almost?!

The PILOT flicks a switch.

9) EXT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT –- DAY

With a guttural scream, the afterburners engage. The boosters give off white flame as the ship rockets forward.

10) INT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT -- DAY

A distant speck in the distance rapidly grows in size as the Transport hurls forward. It becomes readily apparent that the speck is in fact a spaceship. Several other ships, roughly a quarter the size of the larger one, float nearby. Elysium Transports and Fighters fly in between them.

11) EXT. GTD AQUITAINE -- DAY

We move past the massive Capital Ship, bearing witness to its awesome majesty. Huge Plasma Cannons dot the vessel, smaller AF Guns and Beam Turrets can be seen casually rotating back and forth, two of the ship’s four Beam Cannons can be seen. The words; “GTD AQUITAINE” mark the side of this gargantuan spaceship.

The Elysium Class Transport, which formerly looked so impressive, is but a speck as it moves towards the cavernous primary docking bay of the GTD Aquitaine.

12) INT. ELYSIUM CLASS TRANSPORT -- DAY

The PILOT flicks the intercom on again.

PILOT
Ok guys, we’re drawing near to the Primary Docking Bay of the GTD Aquitaine. The sword of the 3rd Fleet. For you guys, this’ll be home for the next two years. She’s a beautiful ship…

The PILOT stops and presses a button. He grins to both ARAM and EDWARD, who smile knowingly.

CUT TO: Suddenly, tiny holographic projectors pop from the walls, floor and ceiling and start to beam out an image. It appears as if the marines are floating free in space. They exclaim in wonder as the huge Docking Bay of the Aquitaine abruptly becomes visible all around them.

PILOT
Treat her well.

13) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, PRIMARY DOCKING BAY –- DAY

EDWARD and ARAM step out from the docking doors of the Omega Class Transport.

EDWARD
I’ve gotta head off and sign in.

ARAM
Well, I’m needed in Section 9, but I’ll take the RTE with you.

EDWARD
Ok.

The two men walk down a gangway. In the background we can see numerous Fighters, Bomber, Transports, Supply Ships and Freighters. They are either locked in, arriving or taking off. A MECHANIC is busy working on an old Ulysses Class Fighter.

ARAM and EDWARD reach the RTE (Rapid Transport Elevator), which from the outside looks like the door to a train. ARAM waves his hand in front of a white panel, the panel ripples like water and the doors open.

14) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, RTE -- DAY

ARAM and EDWARD sit opposite one another. The RTE hums as it moves along.

ARAM
So, was that girl on Vega anything special?

EDWARD
Uh… no. Me and her, we were just… having fun.

ARAM
Ok.

There is a pause.

15) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, OUTSIDE RTE -- DAY

The RTE rockets along an inner track.

16) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, RTE --DAY

EDWARD
Those were all new recruits on the Omega Transport today, huh?

ARAM
Yeah, we’re supposed to be running with maximum personnel for the assault on Epsilon Pegasai.

EDWARD
So it’s been confirmed then?

ARAM
(Nodding)
While you were on leave. We’re going to spearhead the final operation against the Neo Terran Front. I heard something about the 1st Fleet being involved, but it’s mostly going to be us.

EDWARD
Jesus, can you believe it took this long?

ARAM
Can anyone? I don’t think even the NTF expected it to last eighteen months.

EDWARD
And all because they were afraid.

ARAM
Hell, everyone was afraid. When the Beta Aquilae Convention was first signed, my mom thought we’d all end up as slaves to the Vasudans.

EDWARD
Yeah, the older ones have a hard time letting go.

ARAM
Well the Terran-Vasudan war cost about 5 million lives. It’s hard for some people to let something like that just slip into the past.

EDWARD
I guess, but the war ended over thirty years ago.

ARAM
“Time heals all wounds but hatred infects forever.”

EDWARD
Don’t start that quoting **** with me again.

ARAM
You could always stand a little more education Eddy.

The RTE emits a soft musical tone.

RTE VOICE
Sector 9.

ARAM
(Getting up)
I’ll see you at the canteen.

17) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, PILOT’S MESS –- DAY

CLOSE ON: A holographic projector is running on a medium sized dais, it shows a strange sport that appears to be a combination between water polo and Gridiron. One of the players scores a point.
[/I]
JAIK (O.S.)
Oh come on! What the hell was that?!

We pull back from the game and see a large, grizzled man leaning back on a couch, watching the game. He holds a drink in his hands. MAERA, an Asiatic woman dressed in military gear sits next to him and laughs.

MAERA
What’s the matter Jaik? I thought you said the Centaurai Redeemers were the best team in the galaxy!

JAIK
Shut up!

MAERA
Hey, it’s not my fault you can’t judge teams for crap.

JAIK
I can’t believe this!

EDWARD walks over to the two of them, MAERA nods to him in greeting.

EDWARD
Hey guys, how’s it going?

MAERA
Jaik is losing a bet again.

EDWARD (Rolling his eyes)
Big surprise there.

JAIK
To hell with this! I’m getting another drink. You want something Eddy?

EDWARD
Yeah, I’ll have a Jacks.

JAIK
Right.

He stalks off. Both EDWARD and MAERA laugh.

MAERA
So you heard the news yet?

EDWARD
About us moving to Epsilon Pegasai? Aram mentioned it. The guy at the check in post gave me the call to the briefing room.

MAERA
I can’t wait to get out there again.

EDWARD
I thought you said you always get sick when you hit the hot stuff?

MAERA
Well yeah, I do. But it’s more complicated than that. I hate it. I mean it makes me **** myself when I’m out there. But at the same time, I… can’t imagine myself ever doing anything else.

EDWARD (Half-mockingly)
Glory be to the pilots, for they shall know the stars.

JAIK comes back and hands EDWARD his drink.

JAIK
I miss anything important?

There is a sudden roaring sound of a crowd from the projector and a horn blast.

MAERA (Smiling)
Only your complete humiliation. You owe me one hundred credits.

JAIK
****!

MAERA
So, Eddy, what is this we hear about you getting some on Vega? Apparently a spicy beach honey?

EDWARD
Jesus. How does news travel so fast?

MAERA gestures behind EDWARD, who turns and sees a large message on the notice holograms; “Eddy screwed a beach babe”.

Both JAIK and MAERA laugh.

EDWARD
Ok, it’s official. The next time I see Aram, I’m killing him.

JAIK
Come on Eddy, lighten up! You should be proud!

EDWARD
I swear to God-

Suddenly a succession of five loud beeps sounds off over the intercom.

SPEAKER (Over the Intercom)
Attention all Pilots in wings Gamma, Delta, Beta and Alpha…

JAIK
That’s us.

SPEAKER (Cont’d)
…you are called to Briefing room seven. I repeat. All pilots in wings Gamma, Delta, Beta and Alpha…

18) INT. GTD AQUITANE, BRIDGE –- DAY

The bridge is a large, functional chamber. A massive holographic projector displays the external environment. ADMIRAL PETRACH’s chair is empty. All around various crew-members attend to their posts. We slowly dolly through a group of them till we come to rest over the shoulder of HELMSWOMAN ELIRA, pale with a faint scar running from her scalp to the left side of her chin.

CAPTAIN THASS approaches. His hair is blond and sandy. His gait moves a little awkwardly, suggesting a certain degree of uncomfortability. ELIRA senses his presence, but does not stop working at her post.

CAPTAIN THASS
Elira, you know…

ELIRA
Sir, if you’ll excuse me, this isn’t really the time to talk about it.

CAPTAIN THASS
Yes, yes of course. Um… I…

He turns stiffly, pauses, then turns back.

CAPTAIN THASS
Could we talk later?

ELIRA (Halting for just a second)
Later, sure.

She immediately resumes working, finally waving her hand through a holographic map, which flashes neon red.

ELIRA
The jump codes are set, sir.

CAPTAIN THASS
Understood. (To the crew) All hands prepare for subspace jump!

LIEUTENANT 1
Aye sir!

ELIRA waves her hand through a nearby holographic projection, immediately a consistent droning sound erupts throughout the ship.

19) INT. GTD AQUITANE, CORRIDOR 46 -- DAY

CUT TO: EDWARD, JAIK and MAERA stopping in the corridor. All around them, other crewmembers halt as well.

MAERA (Muttering under her breath)
Here we go.

20) EXT. GTD AQUITANE -- DAY

There is an almost imperceptible rumble, a note so low it is beyond human hearing. Then, with the brilliance of a supernova, space in front of the GTD AQUITAINE opens up. A gaping maw. Blue-white light streams from this chasm. The portal swirls and pulses, thin streams of rainbow and gas escape and dissipate around the form of the massive ship. All around her, the rest of the Third Fleet also commences its jump. Then, with an almost horrific beauty, the AQUITANE is engulfed by subspace, it folds around the craft with a loving embrace, almost carelessly rending space-time as it does so. In an instant, the ship is consumed.

21) INT. GTD AQUITANE, BRIEFING ROOM #7 -- SUBSPACE

MAERA, JAIK and EDWARD enter the room. Some of the thirteen other pilots nod in recognition, but most are too busy talking amongst themselves. The briefing room is essentially a large lecture hall with a holographic projector at the bottom. The three pilots take a seat next to HARV a thin man with a wry smile.
[/I]
HARV
Hey Eddy. Have fun on leave?

EDWARD
Shut up.

JAIK
Why weren’t you in the pilot’s mess Harv?

HARV is about to open his mouth to answer when the man standing next to the door gives out a shout of announcement.

MAN
Admiral Petrarch!

All the pilots immediately end their conversations and snap to attention.

CUT TO: A behind shot of ADMIRAL PETRARCH as he limps slowly, yet confidently, towards the main podium of the Briefing Chamber. We see his prim military outfit, gold cuffed. His shiny boots and his withered right hand, curled up by his side.

WIDE ON: ADMIRAL PETRARCH stands at the podium in silence for a moment.

CLOSE ON: For the first time we get a real glimpse at PETRARCH’s face. It appears weathered and hardened, with a firmly set jaw that age has not dulled. The most distinctive feature are the blue-grey eyes of the man, steely and cold.

ADMIRAL PETRARCH
You may be seated.

All the pilots do so.

A hologram activates in front of ADMIRAL PETRARCH and illustrates his points as he mentions them.

ADMIRAL PETRARCH
As you are all no doubt aware by now, this is hopefully to be the final military operation by the Third Fleet. Reports have shown that our offensives in Sirius, Regulus and Polaris have crippled the Neo Terran Front. We all celebrated last week when we heard that Admiral Bosch, head of the Neo Terran Front and traitor to the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance, had been killed when his ship the NTC Judgment was destroyed by the Second Fleet near the Sirius-Deneb Jump Node. The party is officially over, pilots. With Aken Bosch gone, the NTF is little more than a paper tiger, and I plan to burn that paper into ashes.

There is silence.

ADMIRAL PETRARCH
Today’s operation will take place three hundred clicks from the edge of the Deneb Asteroid belt. Here we have found what appears to be a re-fuelling depot. It is guarded by multiple wings of Valkeries and Apollos, as well as five heavy freighters. There’s also a couple of old GTSG Cerberus Sentry drones, but they’re all equipped with pre-shield weapons and shouldn’t give you any real trouble unless you’re stupid enough to run straight into them.

A murmuring laugh ripples through the pilots.

ADMIRAL PETRARCH
Wings Gamma and Delta’s responsibility in this mission will be to destroy the freighters and fuel-delivery systems. For this purpose, you will be given the Hercules Mark II. Alpha and Beta wings are charged with keeping the fighters off the other’s backs. If you get a chance to take out those old Sentry Drones, go right ahead, but your main priority is to destroy those fighters. Am I understood pilots?

PILOTS (In unison)
Yes sir!

ADMIRAL PETRARACH
Alright then, you are dismissed. Suit up and report to the hanger at 0200.

With that, ADMIRAL PETRARCH turns on his heels and walks out.

CUT TO: The four Alpha pilots look at each other.

JAIK
A depot raid? We’re going to end the civil war with a depot raid?

MAERA
Hey, I’m surprised too. I thought we were going to get a crack at the old cruiser Relentless.

HARV
Well, it’s like the Admiral said. With Bosch gone, there isn’t really much the NTF can do. It’s all just mopping up now.

JAIK
It’s still really weird when you read those reports on Bosch. I can’t believe he got taken down so easily. By all accounts he was supposed to be some kind of tactical genius.

HARV (Shrugging)
Everybody makes mistakes. What do you think Eddy?

EDWARD pauses, then he shrugs blankly.

MAERA
Hey Eddy, you ok?

EDWARD
Yeah… I’m just… fine.

He gets up and leaves.

22) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, HANGER BAY –- SUBSPACE

EDWARD walks along the gantry to his ship. He is dressed in pilot’s gear with a helmet under his arm. The Myrmidon Fighter hangs from a large robotic clamp, suspended one hundred metres above the floor of the hanger. EDWARD tentatively reaches over and gently strokes the side of it.

EDWARD
Last one, dad. Last one.

A warning alarm begins to sound.

INTERCOM
All Pilots, prepare for launch. I repeat. All pilots, prepare for launch.

EDWARD slides into the ship and flicks a switch. We move to his P.O.V. as he slides the helmet on and closes the cockpit. The fighter buzzes to life.

CUT TO: A montage of the four wings getting prepped for launch. Maintenance robots do last minutes checks, pilots go through certain good luck rituals and the ships begin to move towards the hanger bay door.

23) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, BRIDGE -- SUBSPACE
[/B]
CAPTAIN THASS
We are about to exit subspace.

ELIRA
The jump is plotted.

ADMIRAL PETRARCH
Make it so.

ELIRA
Aye sir!

She waves her hand though a holographic projection. The same droning sound as before begins again.

24) INT. GTD AQUITAINE, HANGER BAY –- SUBSPACE

CUT TO: A montage of the pilots’ faces as the Aquitaine exits subspace.

A BEAT

The hanger doors rumble open, massive hydraulic pistons bend and contort. The inky blackness of infinity opens up before us.

LIEUTENANT 1 (Over the intercom)
All wings, report in!

GAMMA 1
Gamma wing, ready!

DELTA 1
Delta wing, ready!

BETA 1
Beta wing, ready!

EDWARD
Alpha wing, ready!

LIEUTENANT 1
Commence launch!

There is a half second silence, then the robotic clamps release and the engines busts out. With a thunderous roar, the ships rocket from the hanger into deep space.

JAIK
Yeehaa!

------------------------------------------

Any thoughts?

 

Offline Singh

  • Hasn't Accomplished Anything Special Or Notable
  • 211
  • Degrees of guilt.
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Admrial Bosch is DEAD???!

Nooooooo!

How could  you! :p

Otherwise, A+ work there :)
"Blessed be the FREDder that knows his sexps."
"Cursed be the FREDder that trusts FRED2_Open."
Dreamed of much, accomplished little. :(

 

Offline Fragrag

  • 26
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Very nice, I can easily visualize everything
"On this day...my pants are filled....with joy" -Singh, doing the pants game
My blog, with 'gorillarape' in the url, who wouldn't visit it?!

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Next Update, apologies for delays.

WARNING: THIS EXERPT CONTAINS COARSE LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE

-------------------------------------------------------

25) INT. UNKNOWN MILITARY STATION –- DAY

CUT TO: A sickly blue glow bathes the command chamber. A smartly dressed, handsome LIEUTENANT gestures over to another crew member, and whispers in his ear. We pan back until we can see a hand in the F.G. The hand bears a ring on it, which is marked with a constellation of stars.


LIEUTENANT
Contact has been confirmed sir. Do we retreat?

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
No. Hold here.

LIEUTENANT
What about Jacan and Keara wings?

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
We will mourn them, along with all the others.

26) EXT. DENEB REFUELLING OUTPOST –- DAY


CUT TO: We follow the nose of EDWARD’s Myrmidon Fighter, flanked on both sides by the rest of his wing. The other wings can be seen further back.

CUT TO: EDWARD’s face, yellowed by the visor of his helmet. His eyes focus, cold and hard. The jaw visibly tightens.

CUT TO: A brief montage of the pilots as they close in. Sleek and perfect. Pale adamantine angels

CUT TO: DELTA 1, a gaunt, death-faced black man. He flicks a switch and a targeting reticule activates.
[/I]
DELTA 1
Delta’s going to drop a couple of skittlers in the middle of the fuel dump, all wings stand clear!

Delta Wing unleashes a missile each. We follow along with one of the projectiles, given time to admire its exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. There is a beep and the missile opens up, inside we can see fifteen smaller warheads.

CUT TO: The refueling station lies in the depths of space, seemingly inactive. We zoom close to the hulk of a sentry drone. Suddenly, a small red light blips to life.

WIDE ON: The missiles ignite in the midst of the fuel dump, unleashing the smaller warheads which home in on the storage containers. They shatter and flash before blossoming in eruptions of red and gold.

DELTA 1
Hits confirmed. We’re giving it another run.

BETA 3
Contact! Two wings bearing on points 23.56 and 75.68 respectively.

EDWARD
Prepare for engagement!

The two NTF wings, Jacan and Keara, bear down on the squadron, there is the whining sound of energy being diverted to the weapons systems.

MAERA
They’re coming in hot!

All four wings take evasive action and spin off in separate directions, laser and plasma bursts hiss and snap as the two sides exchange brutal fire. Missile banks unload, shields spatter and splash. One of the enemy fighters is hit along the broadside. It spins wildly before exploding from the engine core.

GAMMA 1
We’ve got a lock on the NTF Persephelus!

CUT TO: An aged, rusting freighter. Four medium plasma cannons activate, rotate, and begin to unleash a withering hail of superheated gas.

GAMMA 1
Gamma wing, fire!

Heavy missiles scream out towards the freighter.

DELTA 2
Check your six Gamma 3!

An NTF fighter comes up behind Gamma 3 and fires, cutting through the shields and impacting on the hull. A missile soars into view and pulverizes the enemy ship.

CUT TO: The missiles hit the freighter and it goes off in a gorgeous mix of blue and crimson flame.

BETA 1
We got it!

There is a shimmer of motion above the cockpit of BETA 1’s ship.

EDWARD
Beta 1, watch out! There's some kind of bogey directly above you!

A proximity alarm sounds off.

BETA 1
What the hell is that?!

CUT TO: We see one of the ‘sentry drones’, walking on four of its six legs atop the ship. It rips open the canopy of the fighter with terrifying ferocity. BETA 1 screams as vacuum simultaneously freezes and crushes him to death.

JAIK
Holy ****! Those aren’t sentry drones!

DELTA 2
Christ, are those Specters?!

MAERA
I thought only we made those!

EDWARD
Pilots! Focus your fire on the Specters! They’ve been fitted with advanced search-and-destroy AI!

The fighters engage with the Specters, taking them all down with considerable difficulty. DELTA 3 is killed.

27) INT. UNKNOWN MILITARY STATION –- DAY

CUT TO: The hand on the chair tightens into a fist, then relaxes.

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
That’s it then.

LIEUTENANT
Yes sir… Will you… give the order now?

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
Not yet. I won’t play our trump card unless I absolutely have to. With any luck they’ll never notice.

28) EXT. DENEB REFUELLING OUTPOST –- DAY

GAMMA 1
We’ll see you guys back at the Aquitaine.

Delta and Gamma wings sink into subspace.

MAERA looks out over the destroyed remains of the outpost. A half-frozen chunk of crushed head, with an empty eye socket, floats past. She vomits.

HARV exhales in and out, taking off his helmet. He is sweating profusely.

HARV
So… we’re done.

JAIK
Yeah. Just another hour and then command will send the sweeper teams.

CUT TO: BETA 2, sobbing in her ship.

BETA 2
Oh Jesus. Oh Jesus, Marik.

BETA 4
Sara, he… he knew what could happen…

BETA 3 (Tearing up)
At… at least he went out the way any one of us would have wanted. He died fighting. We can’t… ask for more than that.

HARV (Shaking his head)
Ahh.

HARV switches frequencies and shuts out Beta Wing.

MAERA
What the hell was up with those Specters?

JAIK
I don’t know. They sure as **** weren’t harmless old sentries.

HARV
When did the NTF get a hold of some of those? I thought after we blew the Sirius Shipyards, they weren’t able to mass-produce anymore.

EDWARD
Maybe… they weren’t.

HARV
What are you talking about?

EDWARD
Maybe these were the only ones the NTF had.

JAIK
But why would they waste them on a fuel dump?

EDWARD
Exactly. Why would they waste something as obviously powerful on such a useless location? I think that this place is more important than command realised.

MAERA
We didn’t see anything here worth protecting.

EDWARD
Not yet. My guess is it’s still out there. We should scan the area.

JAIK
Come on Eddy. What’s the point? If there was anything here, command would have picked it up.

EDWARD
Uh-huh, just like they picked up the Specters?

HARV
Careful Eddy.

EDWARD (Hardening his voice)
One scan. That’s my command. Get to it.

29) INT. UNKNOWN MILITARY STATION –- DAY

CUT TO: The LIEUTENANT looks at a holographic projector.

LIEUTENANT
Oh God.

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
Our luck appears to have run out. Begin the jump sequence.

LIEUTENANT
Sir, that’ll take five minutes.

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
All the more reason to begin now, while we still have a chance.

30) EXT. DENEB REFUELLING OUTPOST –- DAY

MAERA
I’m getting nothing.

HARV
Same here.

JAIK
It’s like I said, Eddy. There’s nothing here that… wait.

EDWARD
What is it?

JAIK
My energy reader just made a massive jump!

EDWARD
Where are the readings coming from?

JAIK
It seems to be focusing in on that asteroid over there.

EDWARD looks over and sees a large mass of rock floating in space. He flicks his com switch.

EDWARD
All pilots, Alpha and Beta, perform a sweep of an asteroid bearing 3.46 by 6.19.

The ships peel off towards the asteroid.

EDWARD
Command, be advised, we are investigating an unknown energy source six clicks from refueling outpost.

31) INT. UNKNOWN MILITARY STATION –- DAY

We see a holographic projection of the two wings approaching.

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
What is our jump status?

LIEUTENANT
Three minutes remaining sir.

ADMIRAL BOSCH (O.S.)
Warm up the AF beams. Prepare for detonation.

LIEUTENANT
Aye sir!

32) EXT. ASTEROID –- DAY

The two wings draw close to the asteroid. They fly over its surface, beginning their scan.

JAIK
That’s one big rock.

BETA 3
Hold on. What are those things on its surface?

MAERA
They look like… Oh ****! Beam Turrets!

EDWARD
Take evasive!

Suddenly the rock of the asteroid cracks. Explosions go off all over. White hot anti-fighter beams stab out at their quarry.

BETA 4
I’m picking up multiple missile launchers and plasma cannons!

JAIK
Jesus!

EDWARD
Break off! Break off!

A beam impales BETA 2, who screams as the hot light cuts her body and her ship into cauterized halves.

BETA 4
Sara!

HARV
The asteroid is breaking up!

EDWARD
It’s not an asteroid! It’s a ****ing capital ship! Command do you read?! We’ve got a destroyer here! Requesting immediate reinforcement!

There is static over the intercom.

EDWARD
Come in command!

MAERA
That ship must be jamming our long range transmissions!

JAIK
Watch out for the debris!

A massive piece of asteroid looms into HARV’s view, he desperately maneuvers his ship to attempt to escape.

HARV
Oh God!

Just as he reaches the edge of the asteroid, it smashes down and rips his fighter to pieces.

EDWARD
No!

The destroyer, now fully revealed as the NTF Iceni, activates its drives and thunders into subspace. Leaving the wings broken amongst a sea of twisted metal and rock.

There is a silence.


---------------------------------
Post comments below... if you dare!
« Last Edit: June 08, 2005, 12:51:28 pm by 2654 »

 

Offline Ghost

  • 29
    • whoopdidoo
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Now that's pretty damn good. I think we can all allow you some artistic license, with the "Specters," but the only revision I would see fit is to change the "NTC Iceni" to "NTF Iceni." I'm pretty sure that was its designation.
Wh00t!? Vinyl? Is it like an I-pod 2 or something?

[/sarcasm]

-KappaWing

The Greatest Game in Existance

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Quote
the only revision I would see fit is to change the "NTC Iceni" to "NTF Iceni." I'm pretty sure that was its designation.
It was. Noted and corrected. Thank you! :)

 

Offline Fragrag

  • 26
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Wow, that was, wow. Nicely written, tragic to, but nothing is perfect, at least more wingmen survive on Eds side then on our side
"On this day...my pants are filled....with joy" -Singh, doing the pants game
My blog, with 'gorillarape' in the url, who wouldn't visit it?!

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Nice! :yes: Do you plan on going into detail with the montage later?

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Quote
Nicely written, tragic to, but nothing is perfect
Haha, what's wrong with a little tragedy? Let's not forget this is war, which is rarely ever "fun" when you get to the fighting.

Quote
Nice!  Do you plan on going into detail with the montage later?
Hmm, hadn't really occurred to me. When writing screenplay, it is always important to obey The Law of Economy with words, I didn't want to fill up pages with pointless descriptions, feeling it was best to leave that to imagination of the reader (or potentially the director).

 

Offline FireCrack

  • 210
  • meh...
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
An asteroid collision kills a sheilded ship? Owell, luck o' the game.
actualy, mabye not.
"When ink and pen in hands of men Inscribe your form, bipedal P They draw an altar on which God has slaughtered all stability, no eyes could ever soak in all the places you anoint, and yet to see you all at once we only need the point. Flirting with infinity, your geometric progeny that fit inside you oh so tight with triangles that feel so right."
3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944 59230781640628620899862803482534211706...
"Your ever-constant homily says flaw is discipline, the patron saint of imperfection frees us from our sin. And if our transcendental lift shall find a final floor, then Man will know the death of God where wonder was before."

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Quote
An asteroid collision kills a sheilded ship? Owell, luck o' the game.
A chunk of rock with that much size, mass and force of motion behind it would be extremely difficult to survive, even with shielding. It would overload the shield generator in nanoseconds.

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Quote
Originally posted by theoneofblood
Hmm, hadn't really occurred to me. When writing screenplay, it is always important to obey The Law of Economy with words, I didn't want to fill up pages with pointless descriptions, feeling it was best to leave that to imagination of the reader (or potentially the director).

Interesting, I only heard of this Law of Economy of Words regarding dialogue. You could get really creative with the montage and can always cut it out later. Better to write down everything now and discard later in my opinion.  Besides, the director will just tear your script to shreds anyway. :p

 
FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Quote
Interesting, I only heard of this Law of Economy of Words regarding dialogue. You could get really creative with the montage and can always cut it out later. Better to write down everything now and discard later in my opinion. Besides, the director will just tear your script to shreds anyway.  
I apply it to all of my writing, otherwise I get too involved with describing everything and it takes three pages just to get to the dialogue. However, I will consider going into greater detail with some of my later montages.

 

Offline Singh

  • Hasn't Accomplished Anything Special Or Notable
  • 211
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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
:bump:

Any updates dude? :D
"Blessed be the FREDder that knows his sexps."
"Cursed be the FREDder that trusts FRED2_Open."
Dreamed of much, accomplished little. :(

 

Offline Cobra

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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
yes! i'm enjoying this. :D
To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow. - Metrodorus of Chios
I wept. Mysterious forces beyond my ken had reached into my beautiful mission and energized its pilots with inhuman bomb-firing abilities. I could only imagine the GTVA warriors giving a mighty KIAAIIIIIII shout as they worked their triggers, their biceps bulging with sinew after years of Ivan Drago-esque steroid therapy and weight training. - General Battuta

 

Offline BlackDove

  • Star Killer
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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
Universal Studios Presents? Ehhhhhhhh funny. Yeah.

Otherwise.....not bad up until the point I stopped reading.

Scrolling quickly down, it looks like you made characters out of key figures (like Bosch). Not too much of a fan of that myself.

 

Offline Cobra

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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
it follows FS2's storyline. of course it has bosch!
To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow. - Metrodorus of Chios
I wept. Mysterious forces beyond my ken had reached into my beautiful mission and energized its pilots with inhuman bomb-firing abilities. I could only imagine the GTVA warriors giving a mighty KIAAIIIIIII shout as they worked their triggers, their biceps bulging with sinew after years of Ivan Drago-esque steroid therapy and weight training. - General Battuta

 

Offline BlackDove

  • Star Killer
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FS2 Screenplay: Dragon Beneath the Waves
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