ACT FOUR
FADE IN
19 INT. KIRK - BRIDGE
The viewscreen shows clips from a BATTLE - the battle seen in VOY 10x09 “Hungry”. A giant, misshapen BORG CUBE is under attack by an entire fleet of Starfleet vessels, including the one which is recording this encounter.
As we watch, the cube literally ABSORBS a Starfleet ship. It sucks the ship in, folding it into its own body, eating it whole. This happens again and again with more Starfleet ships, the cube shrugging off any attempts to destroy it.
PAN AROUND until we see the rest of the bridge. Vaughn, Shar, Rogeiro and the entire bridge crew of the
Kirk. Sisko, Kasidy, Jake and Rena. Finally Bacco, Phiri and Wexler. They all stand silently, watching the slaughter.
Bacco stares dumbfounded at the screen, tears in her eyes.
Kasidy is holding Ben’s hand. Rena is holding Jake’s hand. Then Jake reaches out and holds his father’s hand as well.
The image on screen changes to Admiral ROSS, looking tired and haggard into the camera.
ROSS (screen)
Madam President, the first battle
took place in sector 108. Three
dozen ships faced the cube. Only a
handful survived. The entire thing
took... ninety-seven seconds. The
cube then proceeded to Earth.
On the screen, the recording switches to another BATTLE - this the one as seen in TNG “Heldentod” and VOY “Long Live the Queen”. The super-cube is now in battle with a PLANET KILLER - the very same one from TOS “The Doomsday Machine.”
The cube likewise ABSORBS the giant crystalline machine... but a few moments later, the entire construction EXPLODES in a giant ball of fire. Our POV shudders with the force of it, and quickly scoots out of the way before being caught.
As the crew flinch back from the bright light, the image returns to Ross.
ROSS (screen)
Captain Picard of the Enterprise,
Professor Hansen and Ambassador
Spock had managed to acquire the
so-called Planet Killer from the
storage facility at Epsilon Sigma,
and were finally successful in
using it to destroy the cube.
BACCO
(quiet, haunted)
Loss of life?
ROSS (screen)
Unknown as yet, ma’am. However,
one loss is confirmed by Professor
Hansen - Admiral Kathryn Janeway,
formerly of the starship Voyager.
Bacco digests this with quiet dignity. While everyone else is crying or holding their head in their hands or otherwise expressing their grief, Bacco is holding it together. And Vaughn has his eyes firmly on Bacco. Eventually...
BACCO
Admiral, thank you for letting me
know. Please tell Esperanza I’ll be
returning to Earth immediately.
And I’m going to want to have a
chat with whoever was running
Starfleet when I get there.
ROSS (screen)
Understood, ma’am. Palais out.
The signal drops. Bacco sniffles her tears away and turns to Vaughn, who meets her gaze with sympathy.
BACCO
Captain, if I could impose upon you...?
VAUGHN
Without hesitation, ma’am.
Bacco turns and heads towards the turbolift, Phiri and Wexler by her side.
BACCO
Ashanté, contact the governor and
make my apologies. Duty calls.
PHIRI
Understood, ma’am.
Meanwhile Vaughn approaches the Sisko family.
VAUGHN
It’s up to you, Ben. We can take
you all with us, or...
SISKO
I think we’ll stay here for the
moment, Elias. If you could just
transport us back down...
VAUGHN
As you wish. Lieutenant ch’Thane
will escort you to the nearest
transporter room.
After a cursory check by Wexler, the small party enters the turbolift - Bacco and her people, the Sisko family, Shar.
BACCO
Captain, I’ll be in my quarters
if you need me.
The door closes and they are gone. Vaughn turns to Rogeiro.
VAUGHN
Commander, recall all crew to
stations. Set course for Earth at
maximum warp as soon as we get
clearance from Cestus control.
ROGEIRO
Aye sir.
As Vaughn turns to enter his ready room, Rogeiro snaps orders to the crew, breaking them out of their horror.
ROGEIRO
Dunlop, send the recall signal
immediately. T’Larik, set course
for Earth. Magrone, communicate
with Cestus control and request
priority one clearance.
They do as they are told.
20 INT. KIRK - TRANSPORTER ROOM
Sisko, Kasidy, Jake, Rena and Shar enter the room. Shar nods for the ENSIGN on duty to leave her station - she does. Alone now, Shar turns to the Sisko family.
SHAR
I am sorry for what has happened.
SISKO
We’ll be fine, Lieutenant.
SHAR
To see one’s home in danger... it
is a terrible thing. But that is why
we do what we do. To protect it
to the best of our ability.
Sisko reaches out and shakes Shar’s hand. Jake does too. Rena grabs him for a quick hug. Then Shar turns to take the transporter control station as the others climb the stage.
SHAR
(working controls)
I am in contact with the Starfleet
control facility on the surface.
They are ready to receive you.
SISKO
Energise, Lieutenant.
He does, and the Sisko family disappear in a TRANSPORTER beam. Shar watches them go...
21 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT
The
Kirk moves out of orbit from the planet below, leaving the president’s small fleet of support vessels behind.
Once it is clear, the
Kirk jumps to WARP.
22 EXT. SPACE - THE KIRK
The ship flies at maximum warp, the stars streaking by...
23 INT. KIRK - CAPTAIN’S READY ROOM
Vaughn sits behind his desk in his personal space, thinking hard about everything that has happened. After a few moments of silence, the door CHIME sounds.
VAUGHN
Come in.
The door opens and Bacco is there, Wexler just behind her. As she steps through the door, Vaughn stands to greet her.
VAUGHN
Thank you for agreeing to speak
with me, Madam President.
She nods subtly to Wexler, who steps back, allowing the door to close. Vaughn and Bacco are now alone. He after-you’s her to the couch. As they both take it...
BACCO
You know, Captain, a woman in
my position is not accustomed
to being summoned.
VAUGHN
Oh, please don’t misunderstand,
ma’am. I’m sure my problems
must be very low down your list
right now. So I appreciate any
scant moments you can spare.
BACCO
What’s this about, Captain?
VAUGHN
Well...
(hesitates, stands)
Where are my manners - can I get
you anything from the replicator?
BACCO
I’m fine, thank you.
VAUGHN
Are you sure? It’s no trouble.
BACCO
Okay then yes. There is one thing
I’d like - I’d like you to stop
dithering and get to the point.
Vaughn smiles and sits back down. This is the president.
VAUGHN
Madam President, I feel the need
to... I suppose “confess” is the
only appropriate word.
BACCO
I’m nobody’s priest, Captain.
VAUGHN
No. But whether you know it or
not, I have wronged you. And
I wish to apologise for that.
BACCO
I’m rarely unaware when someone
doesn’t like me, Captain. But I
also rarely make the mistake
of giving a damn.
VAUGHN
Nor should you. The fact is this.
When you were first elected,
I... I didn’t trust you.
BACCO
Why?
VAUGHN
That’s what I’ve been asking of
myself. Trying to understand why
I reacted so badly. The fact that
you were a relative newcomer on
the astro-political scene. No terms
served on the council. Going from
responsibility for just one “small”
world -
(Bacco bristles)
- on the outskirts of Federation
space to responsibility for more
than one-hundred-fifty of them.
And this sudden change right on
the heels of the first resignation
of a sitting president in the
Federation’s history -
BACCO
If this is your version of an
apology, Captain...
VAUGHN
I’m sorry, you’re right. I think
it comes from my training.
BACCO
You mean your eighty years in
intelligence and special ops.
(off Vaughn’s
surprise)
My staff is very thorough.
VAUGHN
Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.
I consider myself an expert in
spotting lies, having had so much
experience at telling them myself.
Unfortunately, that has led more
than once to me expecting everyone
to be a liar. A good friend warned
me off that path only last year...
and I stepped right back on it.
BACCO
Captain... I don’t care if you don’t
like me. I’m sure you’re not the
only one, but I have too much to
get done to waste my energy
worrying about it.
VAUGHN
I’m afraid there’s more to it than
that, ma’am. I realise that what
I’m about to say may well count
as treason, and if you wish to call
for my resignation or arrest, I’ll
surrender without protest. But you
should know that in my mistrust,
I used my resources, my eighty
years of intelligence training, as
you say... to investigate you.
Bacco slowly gets to her feet, takes a few steps away. She is not angry - or at least not openly so.
BACCO
You’re a brave man, Captain.
VAUGHN
My training taught me to be on my
guard against all threats to the
Federation - from without and
from within.
BACCO
And you thought I was that threat?
Is that what your investigations
told you?
VAUGHN
Until recently, my investigations
were... inconclusive.
BACCO
(realises)
You arranged to be my transport to
Cestus... so you could watch me?
VAUGHN
Yes, ma’am. And I’m glad I did.
BACCO
Why?
VAUGHN
Because, to quote young Mister
Sisko... I changed my mind. Seeing
the people who you governed for so
many years missing you, wanting
you back. Seeing how you would
share a drink with a Gorn to keep
your people safe. And seeing how
you held yourself together in the
face of unimaginable slaughter and
tragedy, despite what it must have
cost you... I changed my mind.
BACCO
(deadpan)
I’m honoured.
Vaughn also stands, approaches her, hoping to mend fences.
VAUGHN
I also wanted you to know that all
those resources, all my years of
intelligence and experience... I now
offer them to you. I no longer doubt.
I no longer distrust. I am yours
to command, Madam President.
As the two veterans stare each other down...
FADE OUT
END OF ACT FOUR
