ROBOTECH - SHADOW FORCE

ROBOTECH Shadow Force

Screenplay by Thomas J. Bateman

11/13/2001

FADE IN: EXT. SPACE SUPERTITLE: HAYDON SECTOR The bright flash of a space fold signals the arrival of three Robotech ALPHA-BETA FIGHTER Combinations flying alongside a HORIZON-Class scout ship. We CLOSE IN on the cockpit of the lead blue-colored fighter as we see...

INT. COCKPIT (SCOTT) COMMANDER SCOTT BERNARD, hero of the Third Robotech War, at the controls. A signal beeps on his cockpit display as we see images of his two wingmen, Goldman and Kaminsky on the viewscreen.

KAMINSKY Scout Leader, this is Scout 2, reporting in.

GOLDMAN Scout 3 to Scout Leader, copy, over?

SCOTT Roger, this is Scout Leader, I’m reading you both. Let’s look alive.

Another image appears on Scott’s display.

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Scout Leader, this is Scout Base.

SCOTT Go ahead, Scout Base.

INT. PEREGRINE BRIDGE The Peregrine CAPTAIN stands speaking in front of a monitor as his crew goes about its business.

(CONTINUED)

2.

CONTINUED:

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Commander Bernard, our long range sensors are still unable to raise or detect any communications from Haydon IV. There’s still heavy interference.

INT. COCKPIT (SCOTT) SCOTT Roger, we’re going to have to get a closer look.

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Good luck, Commander. Our rendezvous with the SDF-9 is in three hours. We’ll see you when you get back.

SCOTT Roger, we’ll be done shortly. Scout 2 and 3, spread out, standard Delta search pattern. Switch to high power on your short-range sensors.

EXT. SPACE The three Alpha-Betas spread out away from the Peregrine.

INT. COCKPIT (GOLDMAN) GOLDMAN Commander, still nothing from Haydon IV on the Sentinel-Net. Nothing but static.

INT. COCKPIT (KAMINSKY) KAMINSKY Same here, Commander. It’s weird for us to just lose contact with them like that.

INT. COCKPIT (SCOTT) SCOTT Well, that’s why we’re out here.

(CONTINUED)

3.

CONTINUED:

GOLDMAN What do you think happened, Commander?

SCOTT Probably a solar flare or something, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.

INT. BRIDGE The commander of the Peregrine walks the bridge as his controllers monitor their readouts. Levels on some indicators spike up to red and alarms begin to blare.

CONTROLLER #1 Captain! Magnetomic readings are off the scale!

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN What?!

CONTROLLER #2 Sir, I’m reading a large magnetic energy wave, vector 3-1-6. Straight for us!

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN All hands to emergency stations! Brace for impact!

EXT. SPACE (ON PEREGRINE) The Peregrine is slammed by the huge magnetic energy wave and suffers heavy damage.

INT. COCKPIT Goldman reacts with alarm as her instrument panel lights up.

GOLDMAN Commander, my instruments are going crazy!

4.

EXT. SPACE Goldman’s fighter explodes as it is destroyed by the forces of the magnetic wave. Kaminsky and Scott’s fighters turn and ride with the wave and are able to survive.

INT. BRIDGE (PEREGRINE) Alarms sound frantically as the crewmembers try to do their jobs amidst the chaos.

CONTROLLER #1 Captain! Damage reported in all sections.

The hull has been compromised. Helm control is not responding!

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Helm! Do we still have fold system control?

CONTROLLER #3 Yes, sir! Fold system control is still functional.

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Prepare to fold, contact Commander Bernard! We’re getting out of here!

EXT. SPACE Scott’s Alpha, transformed into battloid-mode, comes alongside Kaminsky’s damaged Alpha-Beta.

SCOTT Kaminsky! Are you all right?

KAMINSKY Roger, sir. I’m still here.

SCOTT Can you make it back?

(CONTINUED)

5.

CONTINUED:

KAMINSKY Yes, sir!

SCOTT Alright, Scout Base, this is Scout Leader. We’re falling back to your position.

As Scott helps Kaminsky back to the ship, a small group of unknown fighter craft pounce upon them and open fire with magnetic energy weapons.

SCOTT (cont’d) What the...?

Kaminsky’s Alpha-Beta takes several direct hits.

KAMINSKY Commander...!

Kaminsky’s Alpha-Beta is destroyed as Scott swings around to fight the enemy. He fires his gun pod and missiles but they are ineffective as the nimble enemy ships, seemingly unaffected by the intense gravity forces, evade his shots and fire back, hitting his Beta fighter. Scott disengages from the disintegrating Beta and fires a missile barrage to delay the enemy as he transforms to fighter-mode and evades his pursuers.

INT. BRIDGE The crew of the Peregrine desperately make preparations to escape.

PEREGRINE CAPTAIN Scout Leader, we are preparing to fold. Tminus 30 seconds! Do you copy?!

SCOTT Copy, Scout Base!

6.

EXT. SPACE Scott takes up a defensive position behind the Peregrine in Guardian-mode where...

INT. COCKPIT ...he frantically scans the skies looking for the enemy ships that had attacked him, but sees nothing. Suddenly a brilliant light fills his field of view and Scott is completely awestruck by what he sees (off screen). Holding his hand up to shield his eyes, Scott doesn’t notice another alarm on his instrument panel that shows another magnetic wave approaching.

INT. BRIDGE A controller continues the countdown.

CONTROLLER #1 Fold in 10...9...8...

CONTROLLER #2 Captain, there’s another energy wave approaching!

Reaction shot of Scott and the Peregrine’s captain as the countdown continues.

CONTROLLER #1 5...4...3...2...1..., mark.

EXT. SPACE The Peregrine’s fold engines activate as it is slammed by another magnetic wave and begins to break up. Scott’s Alpha is also being ripped apart...

INT. COCKPIT ...as he strains against the gravitational forces.

(CONTINUED)

7.

CONTINUED:

SCOTT (reax) Rrr...Rrrgh.... as the screen goes WHITE. EXT. SPACE The immense SDF-9, the newest Robotech Super Dimension Fortress, ENTERS the screen. The camera closes in on the bridge where we see the bustle of activity going on inside.

INT. BRIDGE The SDF-9’s commanding officer, CAPTAIN VINCE GRANT steps through the hatch leading to the command bridge. He walks around the bridge, surveying the activity going on around him. His second-in-command, COMMANDER ERICA KRIEG, reports to him with a salute.

KRIEG Good morning, Captain Grant.

Vince returns the salute.

VINCE Good morning, Commander Krieg; what’s the status report?

KRIEG We’ve arrived at the designated coordinates.

VINCE Good, any sign of our Mercury Base scouts?

CONTROLLER Fold reaction off the port bow, Captain.

Grant smiles.

(CONTINUED)

8.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Well, I guess that answers that question.

A scout ship surrounded by three alpha-beta fighters defolds within sight of the SDF-9.

KRIEG It’s the Atalanta, and she’s right on time. The Peregrine is due in at 0700 and the Pollux will be here at 0900.

VINCE Hmm. The Peregrine has deviated from its normal search assignment?

KRIEG Space Station Freedom has requested that they check out the Haydon Sector.

Sentinel Command has lost their communications link with them.

VINCE That’s very odd.

KRIEG Yes, sir. Sentinel Command thinks it may be just a solar flare or something like that. The Peregrine is just going to check it out.

VINCE Good, I hope it won’t take them long. I’m anxious to really get started on the search.

KRIEG The Mercury Base scouts have been out there for six months, but there’s still not been a single trace of the SDF-3.

Vince Grant looks slightly perturbed.

(CONTINUED)

9.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE I’m aware of that, Commander.

Krieg corrects herself.

Krieg I’m sorry, sir. That was out of line.

Grant relaxes with a smile that puts his Executive Officer at ease.

VINCE Don’t worry about it, Erica.

Grant winks at her.

VINCE (cont’d) We’ll find them.

KRIEG Absolutely, sir. The SDF-9 is the newest and most advanced ship in the Robotech Forces. If we don’t find them, no one will.

INT. HANGAR BAY An ADVANCED SHADOW ALPHA FIGHTER is being held above the hangar deck by a null gravity crane where it is being separated from its attachments to an accompanying ADVANCED SHADOW BETA FIGHTER. We see DR. LOUIS “LOUIE” NICHOLS operating a handheld remote control as he maneuvers the two huge objects effortlessly. With a touch of a few keys, the Alpha’s engines twist and fold down into legs and set down softly on the hangar deck.

TECHNICIAN We’re ready, Doctor Louis Nichols.

LOUIE Alright, let’s set the Beta down.

(CONTINUED)

10.

CONTINUED:

Nichols turns toward the Beta fighter and punches a few keys on his control pad. The “legs” of the Beta swing down and touch the hangar deck.

LOUIE (cont’d) Let’s swap out the Synchro-Cannon on this one.

TECHNICIAN Yes, Doctor.

Nichols types in commands and a crane lowers and grapples onto the cannon mounted atop the Beta Fighter. As Louie looks up, we hear a voice come from behind him.

ANGELO Quite a piece of machinery, those Shadow fighters.

Louie turns around toward a familiar voice.

LOUIE Angie?

ANGELO DANTE smiles and shakes hands with his old friend.

ANGELO How’re you doing, Louie?

NICHOLS Oh, just great. I haven’t seen you in years. Last I heard you got married.

ANGELO Yeah, well that didn’t work out.

Louie notices Angelo’s uniform.

NICHOLS So, you finally went and got yourself a commission, “Lieutenant”.

(CONTINUED)

11.

CONTINUED: (2)

ANGELO Yeah, I figured I’d see see how the better half lived. I’m assigned to the Warlord Squadron as maintenance officer and Beta fighter pilot.

LOUIE That’s great. It means we’ll be working together again.

TECHNICIAN Synchro-cannon transfer successful, Doctor Louis Nichols.

LOUIE Continue the synchro-cannon checkout on Betas 6 and 7.

TECHNICIAN Yes, Dr. Louis Nichols.

As Technician steps away, Angelo observes Louie’s set up.

ANGELO Well, look at you, quite a set up you’ve got here. Head of R&D for Neptune Base, that’s quite a long ways from those old hovertanks we used to drive.

LOUIE Well, I try to keep myself busy.

Louie laughs as Captain Grant walks up.

VINCE Good morning, Doctor.

LOUIE Good morning, Captain. Sir, this is Lieutenant Angelo Dante. He and I were in the 15th Squadron during the Second Robotech War.

(CONTINUED)

12.

CONTINUED: (3)

VINCE Ah, so you were also with my son Bowie.

ANGELO Yes, sir.

Angelo looks at his watch and notices the time.

ANGELO (cont’d) Oh, I have to get to a meeting, I’ll see you later Louie.

Angelo and Louie shake hands again.

LOUIE It’s good to be working with you again, Angie.

Angelo turns and salutes Vince Grant.

ANGELO Captain.

Vince returns the salute and then talks to Dr. Nichols.

VINCE So are the veritechs ready, Doctor?

LOUIE I’ve personally checked out every Veritech on the ship. Weapons, guidance systems, avionics, power plants, transformability controls, anti-gravity, life-support...

Vince Grant stops the enthusiastic ramble.

VINCE Whoa, whoa, Doc. I just wanna know, are we going to be ready to get the mission started?

(CONTINUED)

13.

CONTINUED: (4)

LOUIE Oh... well, yes Captain. We’ll be ready.

VINCE I hope so.

INT. READY ROOM In the ready room of the Warlord Squadron aboard the SDF-9, two young pilots: MARCUS RUSH and JONATHAN WOLF JR. look like students on the first day of school as they try to find their seats. They notice only one other pilot, AURORA STERLING, seated one row behind the front.

MARCUS Come on, Wolf, just find a seat.

WOLF Just checking to see if these chairs have already been assigned.

MARCUS I don’t see any names on them.

AURORA Well, if it isn’t Jonathan Wolf, Jr.Just sit anywhere.

Wolf recognizes Aurora Sterling.

WOLF Aurora Sterling? We’re gonna be in the same squadron?

Aurora looks up with a sly grin.

AURORA So, whose your friend?

WOLF Oh, this is Marcus Rush.

(CONTINUED)

14.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS So, you’re the daughter of Max and Miriya Sterling.

AURORA Well, one of them anyways. You guys had better find a seat, just pick any one.

MARCUS Let’s just sit up front. Remember how the instructors at the Academy liked the cadets who sat in the front row? It shows initiative.

WOLF Sounds good to me.

Wolf and Marcus both look at Aurora who just smiles. The two take their seats at the front of the Ready Room.

A group of pilots enter the room and take notice of the two sitting at the front. A few of them come over. The leaders of the group, CADE RANDALL and his friend DEAN STENCER step forward.

RANDALL Hi. The two begin to stand up and salute. Randall motions them down.

RANDALL (cont’d) No, no, just make yourselves comfortable.

WOLF Hello, sir.

STENCER How are you guys doing? Want something to drink?

MARCUS No, we’re just fine, sir.

(CONTINUED)

15.

CONTINUED: (2)

RANDALL Good.

Wolf notices the group with Randall has grown. He starts to feel like they are on the spot.

WOLF Are we in your seats, sir?

Randall and the others nod ‘yes.’

STENCER (motions with his thumb) Rookies go the back.

The two quickly get up and move to the back. Marcus leans toward Wolf and elbows him.

MARCUS Nice going, Wolfman!

WOLF It was your suggestion.

RANDALL Did they just barge in here and steal our seats, Lt. Sterling?

AURORA That’s pretty much what they did, sir.

Wolf looks at Aurora, who turns and winks at him. Noticing a female commander enter the room, Aurora quickly stands to attention.

AURORA (cont’d) Attention on deck!

The rest of the room rises to attention as a striking blondehaired woman KAREN PENN, the squadron commander, walks to the front.

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED: (3)

KAREN Take your seats.

The group of pilots do as ordered. Angelo Dante runs in from the back and quickly takes a seat. As Karen walks to the podium at the front of the room, she looks over at the two new pilots seated at the back.

KAREN (cont’d) You two are the new pilots?

The two rise up. Wolf speaks for them.

WOLF Yes, ma’am.

KAREN I’m Commander Karen Penn, your new CO, and this is the 37th Combat Squadron, Neptune Division, the Warlords. Don’t keep everyone waiting, introduce yourselves.

Wolf and Marcus take their turn.

WOLF I’m Third Lieutenant Jonathan Wolf Jr. Alpha fighter pilot.

Several of the older pilots turn their heads as they hear the famous name “Jonathan Wolf”.

MARCUS Third Lieutenant Marcus Rush. Beta fighter pilot.

Karen and the others react with surprise at the pedigree of the Wolf and Sterling family names.

(CONTINUED)

17.

CONTINUED: (4)

KAREN Sterling, and now Wolf? What is this squadron becoming? the famous fathers club?

AURORA And “mothers” too, Commander Penn.

Karen smiles at Aurora’s admonition.

KAREN Welcome to the Warlords. You'll get to know everyone here as you go.

Karen turns her attention to the squadron as a whole.

KAREN (cont’d) Most of you have already met our new Beta team leader, First Lieutenant Angelo Dante.

Karen gestures as Angelo nods.

KAREN (cont’d) Alright, we all know why we’re here.

Captain Grant is anxious to get the mission started and I know we’re all anxious to start playing with our new toys. Dr. Nichols has informed me that the new “Advanced” Veritech Shadow Fighters will be ready to go tomorrow.

The assembled group of pilots cheer and smile.

KAREN (cont’d) We’re going to put these new Veritechs into the field immediately and Captain Grant says it’s going to be up to the Warlords to break ‘em in.

A few more claps and hoots.

(CONTINUED)

18.

CONTINUED: (5)

KAREN (cont’d) Everyone here knows how important this mission is. A lot of us owe our lives to the people on the SDF-3 and it’s going to be up to us to bring them home. Assemble in the fighter bay at 1300 hours for function checks; dismissed.

INT. SICK BAY DR. JEAN GRANT, the SDF-9’s Chief Medical Officer, is examining a patient as her husband, Captain Vince Grant walks in. They smile at eachother.

JEAN (to patient) I’m going to give you some Indomethicine.

If the tendinitis persists, just let us know.

The patient zips up his uniform as a nurse escorts him out.

VINCE Good morning, Doctor Grant.

JEAN Good morning, Captain Grant. Are you here for a check-up?

VINCE No, but I was wondering if my wife would like to get some breakfast.

JEAN That depends, are you buying?

VINCE It’s my ship, isn’t it?

JEAN You’re the captain.

(CONTINUED)

19.

CONTINUED:

Jean and Vince share a kiss and an embrace as they look out the window of the lounge at the stars together.

VINCE I never get tired of looking at the stars, Jean.

JEAN I’m glad they picked you to lead the mission.

VINCE Me too.

JEAN Vince, I hope we find them.

VINCE So do I. JEAN Rick, Lisa, Max, Miriya...and all the others...

VINCE I know.

Vince holds his wife close.

VINCE (cont’d) I promise we’ll find them.

FADE TO COMMERCIAL

(CONTINUED)

20.

CONTINUED: (2)

FADE IN FROM COMMERCIAL: INT. OFFICER’S QUARTERS Jonathan Wolf Jr. and Marcus Rush are settling into their quarters.

WOLF You got that Vid-Player I loaned you?

Marcus reaches into one of his drawers.

MARCUS Here you go.

Marcus tosses the vid-player at Wolf as they both react to a knock on the door.

WOLF Come in.

Aurora Sterling walks in.

MARCUS Hey, Lt. Sterling.

Aurora tosses two “sandwiches” to Wolf and Marcus.

AURORA I figured you two could use some breakfast.

Both guys tear into their sandwiches.

WOLF (with full mouth) Aurora, you’re a life saver.

AURORA So what do you think of your new CO? MARCUS Penn? She’s o-kay.

(CONTINUED)

21.

CONTINUED:

WOLF O-kay? Come on Marcus, she was one of the top aces during the Sentinels War. AURORA Yeah, she was mostly with my parents.

They always spoke very highly of her.

MARCUS You could tell by her speech, she really wants to find the SDF-3.

AURORA I think that goes for all of us.

MARCUS Well, it’s obvious why you want to find the SDF-3. Both of your parents are out there. As for Wolfman here, he just wants to get more medals than his dad.

WOLF Hey, my father would have expected nothing less of me.

AURORA (laughing) You think you’ve got it bad?

MARCUS Yeah, how do you guys deal with that pressure?

AURORA I don’t see it as pressure.

WOLF Yeah, we all have a job to do. I never felt pressured by my father’s accomplishments, he was obviously a hero to a lot of people. The least I can do is honor his memory. I’m just doing my duty.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (2)

AURORA So what about you, Marcus? What’s your motivation?

MARCUS My sister Marlene was killed on the first Mars Division offensive against the Invid on Earth... Then my parents were both killed during the Sentinels War. AURORA Oh, I’m so sorry. Is there anyone else in your life?

MARCUS Well, my sister’s fiancee is still alive.

He was one of the few survivors of the first offensive. I only found out after the war was over that he had survived.

AURORA What’s his name?

MARCUS Scott Bernard. He’s been out here searching for the SDF-3 since the end of the war. I still haven’t had a chance to see him.

WOLF Yeah, I want to meet him too! He’s the hero of the Third Robotech War. He led a resistance group all the way from South America to Reflex Point. I was told that he fought alongside my father when he died.

MARCUS Small universe, isn’t it?

22.

23.

EXT. SPACE A fold reaction takes place nearby the SDF-9 as another group of ships defolds from hyperspace.

INT. BRIDGE Captain Grant views the ship from his chair on the bridge.

VINCE Is that the Pollux group?

KRIEG Yes, sir; and they’re right on time.

VINCE Still no word from the Peregrine?

KRIEG No, sir. They’re two hours overdue.

VINCE As soon as the Captain of the Pollux arrives, we’re going to start the meeting. Coordinate all ships in a scanner spread and increase sensor range by 50%. I’ll be in the conference room, you have the conn.

KRIEG Aye, sir.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM Captain Grant enters the conference room where all the department heads are assembled, including Karen Penn, Louie Nichols and Jean Grant. They all rise at his entrance.

VINCE Please take your seats.

The department heads all sit down.

(CONTINUED)

24.

CONTINUED:

VINCE (cont’d) The United Earth Command has ordered the SDF-9, under my command, to head up the Robotech Advance Fleet and coordinate the search for the SDF-3. United Earth Command is not happy with the lack of progress. Dr. Nichols will now brief us on the current status of the search.

Captain Grant turns over the podium to Dr. Nichols.

LOUIE Thank you, captain. Lights please.

The lights of the large conference room dim and a holographic video display illuminates in the center of the room.

LOUIE (cont’d) This is what we know so far, and it isn’t much. The SDF-3 was to be the final ship of the Robotech Expeditionary Force to fold to Earth to participate in the final offensive against the Invid. She never arrived and no one has seen her since.

Our analyses of her last known position, which is where we are at right now, reveal nothing out of the ordinary. No anomalies, no distress calls, nothing.

She just “vanished”.

JEAN Have any of our allies in the Sentinels War been able to help?

LOUIE We’ve worked with them since the ship’s disappearance, but they haven’t been able to shed any light on this.

KAREN What about the Haydonites? Aren’t they the most technologically advanced of the Sentinel races?

(CONTINUED)

25.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE Well, right now, we don’t have any contact with the Haydonites either. Space Station Freedom lost communications with them over a week ago. The Peregrine has been sent to investigate the situation at Haydon IV but we have yet to hear their report.

JEAN Is it possible that the loss of contact with the Haydonites is related to the disappearance of the SDF-3?

LOUIE It’s too early to tell, but I really doubt it.

VINCE So, what you’re essentially saying, Doctor, is that we are no closer to finding the SDF-3 than we were when it vanished eight months ago?

LOUIE That’s basically it, sir.

VINCE Well my friends, now we know how the Zentraedi felt.

A few nervous chuckles come from the group.

VINCE (cont’d) Continue, Doctor.

LOUIE The SDF-9, besides being the newest and most advanced ship in the Robotech Forces, also carries the most sensitive sensor equipment ever designed.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

26.

CONTINUED: (3) LOUIE (cont’d) With these sensors, we think we can more effectively search for the SDF-3’s Sekiton energy signature. Even if it is still in inter-dimensional space.

HARON MASOUD, the chief engineer of arab descent, asks a question.

MASOUD Doctor Grant, how long can the SDF-3 last on its own? What is the status of its provisions, or its life support capabilities?

JEAN The SDF-3 had disembarked much of her crew to serve with the forward Jupiter and Saturn Base units during the final offensive. She was carrying about 40% of her normal crew complement. Her provisions would have lasted her at least six months, longer if they are rationing.

Life support should last at least a year, provided none of the systems have been damaged.

VINCE What about her weapons?

KAREN The Skull Squadron was still on board.

They have about two dozen Veritech Alpha fighters, probably about thirty other mecha, heavy armor Destroids and such.

I’m sure she can protect herself if she ran into trouble.

A signal from the bridge catches everyone’s attention as Commander Krieg’s image comes up on the main screen.

KRIEG Captain, our sensors have detected the Peregrine, distance 512 gigameters.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

27.

CONTINUED: (4) KRIEG (cont’d) There is no response to our hails, and her emergency transponder has been activated.

Vince Grant stands up.

VINCE Go to Red Alert. Set course for their position. All hands to battle stations.

KRIEG Aye, sir.

Krieg’s image disappears as all the participants in the conference room disperse to their battle stations.

INT. BRIDGE Commander Krieg turns to the bridge controller, LIEUTENANT KEN FARRELL. KRIEG Sound Battle Stations.

FARRELL Battle Stations, aye.

INT. SDF-9 The alarm klaxons sound all over the ship as crewmembers and pilots scurry to their battle stations as the controller’s voice sounds over everything.

FARRELL (cont’d) All hands to Battle Stations. This is not a drill. All hands to Battle Stations.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Order all ships. Set course, zero-sixfive, mark two-one. Distance five-one-two gigameters, Initiate.

28.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 and its accompanying ships activate their fold drives and disappear in bright flashes.

INT. READY ROOM The Warlord pilots put on their flight gear as they ready themselves to go into action. Karen Penn enters the room wearing her flightsuit.

KAREN Alright, here are your flight assignments. Wolf, Rush, I’m assigning you with Lieutenant Randall. Dante, you’ll be flying Beta for Sterling.

The group heads out to the...

INT. HANGAR BAY Marcus comes up to Wolf.

MARCUS Right into the action? Alright!

WOLF Just let me do the flying.

Marcus soft jabs at Wolf’s shoulder.

RANDALL Wolf, Rush.

Marcus and Wolf both turn towards Lieutenant Randall.

RANDALL (cont’d) This is Lieutenant Stencer. He’s my Beta.

Stencer, one of the pilots with Randall in the ready room, nods to Wolf and Rush.

(CONTINUED)

29.

CONTINUED:

RANDALL (cont’d) When we get airborne take up position on my wing and stay tight.

WOLF Yes, sir.

Randall gives them both a thumbs-up as they head for their Veritechs. The controller’s voice sounds over the pilots’ comm-net and inside the hangar bay.

FARRELL (vo) Stand-by for defold in 5...4...3...2...1...Mark.

The huge doors of the hangar bay open to reveal open space and the escort ships.

KRIEG Warlord Leader, this is Archangel, you’re cleared for takeoff.

KAREN Roger, Archangel. This is Warlord Leader, launching.

Penn’s fighter launches, followed in succession by the rest of her squadron. Wolf gets a wide-eyed look as the thrusters catapult his fighter into space. Wolf’s fighter flies out and joins the other fighters which move out to...

EXT. SPACE ...take up positions outside the SDF-9.

KAREN Warlord Squadron, standing by.

KRIEG (vo) Warlord Leader, you are vector zero-fivezero, proceed to target.

(CONTINUED)

30.

CONTINUED:

KAREN Roger, Warlord Squadron, move out!

The veritechs of the Warlord Squadron fly off.

INT. BRIDGE Captain Grant sits in his command chair as Commander Krieg monitors her station.

KRIEG Warlord Squadron is 10 minutes from target.

VINCE Short range scan?

KRIEG Negative, Captain. No contacts. We’re all alone.

VINCE All ships, assume Echelon B formation.

EXT. SPACE The ships of the task force assume positions forming an angled line to the right and left of the SDF-9. The veritechs of Warlord Squadron fly towards the target.

INT. COCKPIT The radar in Karen Penn’s cockpit signals contact with a large object.

KAREN Archangel, this is Warlord One, we’re approaching the debris field. ETA 20 seconds.

Karen touches her screen and several images of her pilots show up.

(CONTINUED)

31.

CONTINUED:

KAREN (cont’d) Spread out at one kilometer intervals and begin search.

EXT. SPACE The veritechs spread out as we focus on two Alpha-Beta fighter combinations.

RANDALL Alright, stay sharp.

MARCUS There it is. I see the debris field.

RANDALL Alright, separate and change to battloid mode.

The veritechs separate and then transform into battloid mode as they enter the debris field with searchlights turned on.

WOLF Holy...

Wolf is stunned at the wreckage. The scout ship appears to have been ripped apart by an incredible force.

RANDALL Warlord Leader, this is Warlord Three, we’ve reached the Peregrine. No sign of survivors.

KAREN (vo) Roger, continue search.

INT. COCKPIT Marcus drifts further away from the main wreckage looking for any signs of life. His radar signals a contact, a homing beacon.

(CONTINUED)

32.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS Warlord Three, this is Warlord Sixteen, I’ve picked up another homing beacon.

Marcus’ Beta camera homes in on the signal. The monitor image zooms in, showing the wreckage of an Alpha fighter.

MARCUS (cont’d) It’s an Alpha fighter!

RANDALL (vo) Roger, proceed with caution.

Marcus’ battloid slows up as a searchlight pans over the wreckage of the blue Alpha fighter. He notices the cockpit with the pilot still inside. He recognizes the armor, with the triangular insignia of Mars Base on the right shoulder and a big 21 on the left shoulder. He zooms in on the face and is shocked.

MARCUS Scott!

Marcus contacts Randall.

MARCUS (cont’d) Warlord Three, I’ve found Commander Bernard!

RANDALL (vo) Is he alive?

MARCUS I...I don’t know.

INT. BRIDGE Captain Grant and Commander Krieg eagerly await word from the search party. The image of Karen Penn appears on the main monitor.

(CONTINUED)

33.

CONTINUED:

KAREN Archangel, this is Warlord Leader. We have a possible survivor. Request emergency medical team to stand-by, we are enroute.

KRIEG Roger, Warlord Leader. You are cleared for landing. Emergency crew is standing by.

EXT. SPACE Marcus and Stencer’s Beta fighters race back to the SDF-9 cradling Scott Bernard’s Alpha. Wolf and Randall’ Alphas follow behind as armed escorts.

INT. SICK BAY The nearly lifeless body of Scott Bernard is hauled into the sickbay on a gurney. Quickly, the medical technicians begin to take off his battle armor as Dr. Grant brings over monitoring equipment. (Emergency Room dialogue and walla) INT. CORRIDOR In the corridor outside sickbay, Marcus, Wolf and Aurora all wait. Karen Penn and Captain Grant join them with concerned looks on their faces. Inside, an unconscious Scott Bernard continues to fight for his life.

INT. HANGAR BAY (Flashback: Black and White) SUPERTITLE: SPACE STATION FREEDOM - SEPTEMBER 14, 2042 In one of the giant hangar bays of Space Station Freedom, a Horizon-class combat transport ship prepares to depart.

(CONTINUED)

34.

CONTINUED:

As crewmembers say good-bye to family and friends, a young MARCUS RUSH, dressed in an Robotech Academy Cadet uniform, is with his sister MARLENE RUSH. MARCUS I wish I was going with you.

MARLENE You’ve still got a few years to go before you graduate.

MARCUS I know, but still...

MARLENE You know how important this mission is.

Admiral Hunter knows we can’t afford to wait before we strike the Invid on Earth.

Don’t worry, we’ll see eachother soon enough.

MARCUS I’m going to miss you, Marlene.

MARLENE Oh Marcus, I’m going to miss you too. But you’ve got to be strong now.

Marcus smiles as he wipes a away a tear he’d been fighting to keep down.

MARCUS You’re my sister Marlene, you’re the only one I’ve got.

MARLENE I love you Marcus, now “snap to” soldier.

MARCUS Yes, maam.

Marcus regains his composure.

(CONTINUED)

35.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARLENE No time for crying. Besides, what would Mom and Dad think?

MARCUS (laughing) Hah-ha, Dad would kill me!

MARLENE Well, don’t you worry, Scott will be there to protect me.

Marcus suddenly remembers.

MARCUS Oh no, Scott!

MARLENE You’d better hurry before he leaves.

MARCUS Alright, I love you.

Marcus hugs his sister one last time.

MARLENE Take care of yourself, Marcus.

Marcus waves as Marlene disappears into her ship. He immediately runs to the other side of the hangar bay to where Scott Bernard’s blue Alpha-Beta is being prepped for takeoff.

MARCUS Scott!

A younger SCOTT BERNARD turns in recognition.

SCOTT Marcus!

MARCUS I’m glad I caught you before you left.

(CONTINUED)

36.

CONTINUED: (3)

SCOTT I’m going to miss you, Marcus. I hope I can be there when you graduate from the Robotech Academy.

MARCUS Don’t worry, before you know it I’m going to be up there flying with you.

SCOTT I don’t doubt it.

Marcus hugs Scott who reacts awkwardly, like a man not given to public displays of affection.

MARCUS You’d better save some of those Invid for me!

SCOTT Well, if the Mars Division does our job, we’re going to finish the Invid off on Earth and then I’m afraid you might be out of luck.

Scott finishes snapping on his armor and puts on his helmet.

MARCUS Scott?

SCOTT What is it?

MARCUS Will you promise to take care of Marlene?

SCOTT Marcus, of course I will. You know that.

MARCUS Protect her, please.

(CONTINUED)

37.

CONTINUED: (4)

SCOTT Marcus, I love your sister very much. I’d give my life to protect her, you can count on that.

MARCUS Yeah, but when are you going to get off your butt and marry her?

Scott laughs and reaches into a pocket and takes out a small jewel box containing a wedding ring. Marcus is impressed.

SCOTT Here Marcus, I want you to be my best man. You keep this with you until the wedding day. Marlene and I will wait until you get to Earth.

Marcus is almost speechless.

MARCUS You’re the best, Scott!

A crewman comes up to Scott.

CREWMAN Commander Bernard, we’re ready to go.

Scott turns to Marcus.

SCOTT Well, that’s my signal. I have to go.

MARCUS Thanks, Scott.

Scott climbs into his Alpha as Marcus steps back out of the way. He then runs to an outside observation window to watch Scott’s departure. As Scott lifts off and passes through the force field of the landing bay. He slows as he passes the observation window and sees Marcus, who then renders a sharp salute. Scott acknowledges and returns the salute.

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED: (5)

The thrusters of the Alpha-Beta ignite and the veritech soars off into space to join the rest of the fleet that is heading to battle the Invid on Earth.

The young cadet Marcus Rush watches the starfield as his reflection in the window dissolves (as we DISSOLVE from black and white to color) into a matching shot of Marcus Rush as he is now, again looking off into the stars. He turns to see his friends JONATHAN WOLF JR. and AURORA STERLING sleeping. A tired DR. JEAN GRANT walks out of the operating room. Marcus goes up to her.

MARCUS (cont’d) Dr. Grant?

JEAN Yes, Lieutenant Rush?

MARCUS How is Commander Bernard?

JEAN He’s stable now. He’s still unconscious and we’re going to let him rest until he comes to.

MARCUS I’m glad to hear that.

JEAN Did you know him?

MARCUS Yes, he was my sister’s fiancee. She died during the first Mars Division offensive three years ago.

JEAN I’m very sorry, Lieutenant. We’ve given the commander quite a few sedatives, so it will be a while before he can speak to anyone.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

39.

CONTINUED: (6) JEAN (cont’d) You do understand that the Captain will speak to him before anyone else does?

MARCUS Yes, maam. I do.

JEAN I suggest you return to your quarters and go get some sleep. Hospital waiting room chairs are designed to be uncomfortable for a reason.

MARCUS I understand. Thank you, Doctor.

Marcus’ conversation with Dr. Grant has woken up Wolf and Sterling.

WOLF So, how is he?

MARCUS He’s resting now, but they won’t know until he wakes up.

AURORA Come on, let’s go.

We see a shot of Scott resting in his bed in sick bay.

INT. HANGAR BAY The wreckage of Scott’s Alpha fighter lies strewn out on a special pad in the hangar deck. A scanning beam goes over the debris from top to bottom as DR. LOUIE NICHOLS works at his computer. KREETAN and other bio-maintenance technicians are also around. ANGELO DANTE comes up staring at the battered Alpha fighter.

ANGELO Wow, did she take a beating.

Louie notices Angelo.

(CONTINUED)

40.

CONTINUED:

LOUIE Uh, you’re not wearing anything metal, are you?

Angelo shakes his head “no”.

ANGELO No. LOUIE Watch this.

Louie taps in a few commands and the Alpha rises up, suspended weightless in mid-air. Louie and his technicians begin to walk around the damaged veritech, examining the levitated damage, its pieces hanging in the air like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. The techs are able to get a more accurate analysis than by studying the pieces sitting on the ground.

ANGELO Hey, how does that work?

LOUIE It’s a variable gravity magnetic field generator, but I think I'll call it the “Louie Levitator”. It’s set to only levitate metal objects.

Louie steps into the field and takes a metal pen out of his lab coat pocket and lets it float to demonstrate.

KREETAN Doctor Louis Nichols, half the ammunition in the gun pod has been used up.

ANGELO Her missiles have all been fired too.

LOUIE That’s strange, there doesn’t appear to be any weapons damage.

(CONTINUED)

41.

CONTINUED: (2)

ANGELO Well, he was definitely shooting at someone.

LOUIE Alright Kreetan, let’s get a look at the targeting system.

KREETAN Yes, Dr. Louis Nichols.

INT. VINCE GRANT’S OFFICE Captain Vince Grant sits in his office, holding a model of an Alpha fighter in his hands, looking out the window at the stars. There is a knock at his door.

VINCE Come in.

His wife, Dr. Jean Grant comes in.

VINCE (cont’d) How’s he doing?

JEAN He’s in stable condition. I have a nurse by his bedside monitoring him. If there are no complications he should wake up within a few hours.

VINCE How many is a few?

JEAN 4...6...it’s really up to him.

VINCE Thanks.

A beep on his desk indicates an incoming message.

(CONTINUED)

42.

CONTINUED:

LOUIE (os) Captain Grant.

VINCE This is Grant, go ahead.

LOUIE (os) Captain, we’ve got something down here I think you should see.

VINCE I’m on my way.

JEAN I’ll let you know if anything changes.

INT. MARCUS’ ROOM Wolf is sleeping in his bunk when he wakes up to see Marcus sitting at his desk looking blankly at the wall.

WOLF Hey, what’s going on? You alright?

MARCUS Can’t sleep.

WOLF Wanna talk about it?

MARCUS Just thinking about my sister and Scott.

WOLF They were supposed to get married, weren’t they?

MARCUS Yeah. It’s just weird seeing him again.

I’ve had such a long time to think about what I want to say to him.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

43.

CONTINUED: MARCUS (cont’d) When I found out he was alive, my heart jumped because I thought my sister might be alive, too.

WOLF I know how that feels. For the longest time, I thought my father was dead. Then to find out that he had been leading the resistance against the Invid all that time.

MARCUS You never really knew him, did you?

WOLF He left for Earth when I was four. I remember some things, but I mostly know him from what other people have told me about him. Aurora’s dad said that I’m just like him.

MARCUS You think Aurora feels the same way about her parents?

WOLF I think she takes it a lot more in stride. It doesn’t seem to phase her, she just does her job. I admire that about her.

MARCUS Me too.

Marcus thinks for a second.

MARCUS (cont’d) She’s pretty cute, don’t you think?

Wolf ignores the comment and changes the subject.

WOLF So when are you going to talk to him?

(CONTINUED)

44.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARCUS I don’t know, it depends on when he wakes up.

INT. HANGAR BAY Captain Vince Grant walks over to where Louie and his staff are assembled.

VINCE What’s up, Doc? LOUIE Yes, Captain, the Alpha’s airframe was ripped apart by strong gravitational and magnetic forces. It’s a miracle that Commander Bernard survived.

VINCE That’s obvious. What else?

ANGELO Captain, all the missiles have been fired. The gun pod is also missing half of its ammunition.

VINCE What was he shooting at?

ANGELO We don’t know, sir.

LOUIE The combat data recorder was heavily damaged. The techs are working on it right now.

Vince notices Kreetan working at the computer.

VINCE What is that thing?

(CONTINUED)

45.

CONTINUED:

ANGELO Captain, that’s Louie’s little helper, “Cretin”.

LOUIE (emphasizing the pronounciation) That’s Ku-REE-TAAN. INT. SICK BAY A nurse reads a book as she sits by Scott Bernard’s bedside.

Scott’s eyes flutter open as he realizes his surroundings.

The nurse reacts to the sounds of Scott groaning and waking up.

NURSE Commander?

The nurse calls over to Dr. Grant, who is sitting in her nearby office.

NURSE (cont’d) Dr. Grant!

Jean rushes to Scott’s bedside.

SCOTT ( (groggy) Where am I? JEAN You’re in sick bay aboard the SDF-9.

SCOTT (weakly) SDF-9? ...I need to speak to the captain.

INT. HANGAR BAY Captain Vince Grant, Angelo Dante and Louie Nichols all crowd around the computer displays.

(CONTINUED)

46.

CONTINUED:

KREETAN We’re ready for playback, Doctor Louis Nichols.

LOUIE Alright, let’s play it.

A distorted image comes up on the display that vaguely shows the objects that Scott was firing at.

VINCE What the hell is that?

ANGELO It doesn’t look like anything we’ve seen before.

The image is incredibly distorted, but we can see the nimble movements of the enemy objects.

VINCE I can barely see anything.

LOUIE I’ll have to run it through some of the imaging equipment. It’ll take some time.

VINCE Well, get on it.

A phone beeps on Louie’s desk.

LOUIE Doctor Nichols. (beat) Yes, he’s right here.

Louie offers the phone to Captain Grant.

LOUIE (cont’d) Captain...

VINCE Grant here.

(CONTINUED)

47.

CONTINUED: (2)

Vince reacts to the news from the other end of the phone.

VINCE (cont’d) I’ll be right there.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 and the fleet cruise in formation.

INT. SICK BAY Captain Grant quickly enters sick bay and comes to Scott’s bedside.

VINCE Commander Bernard, I’m Captain Vince Grant.

SCOTT Yes, sir. I served under you when you were with Mars Base.

VINCE How are you feeling, Commander? Are you alright?

SCOTT I’ll be fine, sir. I just knew I had to speak with you as soon as possible.

VINCE It’s alright, Commander, just take it easy. Tell us what happened.

SCOTT We were investigating the Haydon Sector when we were hit by strong magnetic or gravity waves.

VINCE Were you attacked?

(CONTINUED)

48.

CONTINUED:

SCOTT Yes, sir. I don’t know who, I’d never seen craft like that before. But, just before we folded, something happened.

VINCE What was it?

SCOTT There was a brilliant light...and I saw it.

VINCE Saw what?

SCOTT The SDF-3, sir! I saw it with my own eyes! It was there.

INT. COCKPIT Marcus Rush is in the cockpit of a Shadow Alpha fighter.

RANDALL (vo) Bogies, bearing 2-6-5, distance 150 kilometers.

MARCUS I got ‘em, ten targets, two Invid commanders and eight fighter scouts.

RANDALL Lock on targets.

WOLF Uh oh, they’re splitting up. They’ve seen us!

RANDALL (vo) Two groups, Wolf, Rush break off.

Sterling, you’re with me.

(CONTINUED)

49.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS Roger, Warlord Three.

WOLF Roger, Warlord Three.

MARCUS Okay, Wolfman, tally-ho left eighto’clock.

WOLF Let’s do it!

Marcus and Wolf’s Alphas take off after a group of Invid.

They swoop in behind as two of the Invid fighter scouts break off to attack the Alphas as the commander and two escorts fly away. Wolf smiles as his weapons lock onto the two approaching Invid fighter scouts.

WOLF (cont’d) Missile lock confirmed.

Wolf smiles as the targeting system beeps a “lock”.

WOLF (cont’d) Come to papa.

Wolf depresses the missile fire control but nothing happens.

WOLF (cont’d) Damn! Missile inop. Uh... going to guns.

MARCUS I got ‘em.

Marcus fires six missiles at the two targets turning them both into fireballs.

MARCUS (cont’d) Let’s go after the leader!

(CONTINUED)

50.

CONTINUED: (2)

The two Alphas close in on the Invid group. The Invid group turn around to attack and the commander begins firing its forearm cannons at Marcus and Wolf.

WOLF Changing to battloid.

Marcus and Wolf both transform their Alphas into battloid mode and train their guns at the approaching Invid and fire away. The two fighter scouts are easily dispatched, but the commander is able to lay a few hits on Marcus’ battloid before it breaks off and speeds away.

MARCUS He’s getting away!

The two Alphas transform to fighter mode and give chase.

WOLF Missiles still negative.

MARCUS I can’t get a lock.

The Invid commander fires its missiles, forcing Marcus and Wolf to break off pursuit. As the missiles explode, Wolf finds the Invid commander right on his tail firing away, landing several direct hits.

WOLF He’s on me!

MARCUS I’m coming.

Marcus locks his missiles onto the commander and fires. The Alpha fires its full complement of missiles, completely destroying the Invid Commander.

MARCUS (cont’d) Gotcha!

Marcus looks around for Wolf.

(CONTINUED)

51.

CONTINUED: (3)

MARCUS (cont’d) Warlord 15, this is Warlord 16, do you read me?

There is no answer.

MARCUS (cont’d) Warlord 15, this is Warlord 16, do you read me?

A voice comes over his communications headset.

KAREN He’s dead, Warlord 16.

Marcus is shocked as his viewscreen goes blank and opens up to reveal the simulator bay. The canopies on the simulators each open as Wolf rips off his helmet.

KAREN (cont’d) Wolf, didn’t you notice the negative indicator on your missile control?

WOLF Uh, no Commander.

KAREN We threw that in as you were closing. Why did it take you so long to switch to guns?

WOLF Uh, I don’t know.

KAREN What happens in combat when you hesitate to go to your backup weapon system? If you freeze, you’re dead, and guess what?

Your wingman’s probably gonna be dead too.

Wolf sinks into his seat.

(CONTINUED)

52.

CONTINUED: (4)

KAREN (cont’d) Good thinking Marcus. Taking up the slack.

Marcus beams with pride.

MARCUS Thank you, Commander.

KAREN But you ended up killing Wolf by that missile barrage at the end.

Marcus’s face falls.

MARCUS I did?

KAREN Any special reason why you felt you needed to unload your ENTIRE load of missiles at the Invid Commander?

Marcus thinks for the answer.

MARCUS I wanted to make sure he was dead.

KAREN Oh yeah he’s dead, but so is your wingman. Remember, there is such a thing as “fire-discipline”.

Wolf gives Marcus a mocking “thumbs-up”.

WOLF Thanks! Maybe you should stick to flying Betas.

KAREN Randall, Sterling. Excellent teamwork.

(CONTINUED)

53.

CONTINUED: (5)

RANDALL Thank you.

AURORA Thank you, Commander.

The voice of Captain Vince Grant comes over the public address.

VINCE (vo) Commander Penn and Doctor Nichols, please report to sick bay, immediately.

KAREN (to Randall) Commander Randall, take over the debriefing.

RANDALL Aye, Commander.

Karen Penn leaves the room as Randall addresses everyone else.

RANDALL (cont’d) Alright, everyone report to the ready room.

Aurora comes over to Wolf and Marcus as they get out of their simulator cockpits.

MARCUS The commander has gone to sick bay, I guess that means Scott has awakened.

WOLF When are you going to go see him?

MARCUS As soon as they’ll let me.

(CONTINUED)

54.

CONTINUED: (6)

WOLF (to Aurora) Hey, seems like you did pretty good.

AURORA Yeah, I was pretty good, wasn’t I? MARCUS Don’t let it go to your head.

WOLF Hey, at least she didn’t “kill” me.

MARCUS Oh, shut up! I’m not used to the Alpha fighter. It was my first time since the academy.

WOLF (needling) Oh, excuses, excuses. You Beta pilots are all the same.

INT. SICK BAY Captain Vince Grant, Dr. Jean Grant, Dr. Louie Nichols, and Commander Karen Penn are talking with Scott Bernard.

VINCE Did Haydon IV even appear on your sensors?

SCOTT We didn’t get a long time to look and there was heavy interference, but from what I could tell there was nothing.

LOUIE Can you describe the magnetic forces you were experiencing?

(CONTINUED)

55.

CONTINUED:

SCOTT It hit us all suddenly. We could barely manuever ourselves.

KAREN What happened to your wingmen?

SCOTT I heard Goldman’s distress call as she was hit by the first magnetic wave which destroyed her fighter. I made it to Kaminsky and that’s when they came after us.

KAREN Who were “they”?

SCOTT I don’t know, I’d never seen ships like them.

VINCE Can you describe them?

SCOTT Small, one-man craft. They fired some kind of blast, but it wasn’t a particle beam or anything like that.

LOUIE Anything else unusual about them?

SCOTT They didn’t seem to be affected at all by the gravitational forces. They just danced around, firing at us. I thought I was seeing things.

KAREN Are you sure they were there?

SCOTT Yes, yes, I’m sure.

(CONTINUED)

56.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE We’ll let you get some rest.

SCOTT (emphatic) But Captain, I DID see the SDF-3. It was there!

Vince pats Scott on the shoulder reassuringly.

VINCE It’s alright, Commander. We’ll talk later.

The officers leave as a frustrated Scott lays in his bed.

INT. JEAN GRANT’S OFFICE Karen Penn, Louie Nichols and Vince Grant are in Jean Grant’s office. Scott can be seen resting on a video monitor screen.

VINCE So, what do you think?

JEAN He could have been disoriented.

KAREN He doesn’t strike me as someone who would be delusional.

VINCE What do you think, Dr. Nichols?

LOUIE Some kind of magnetic energy weapon could explain why there was no blast damage on the Alpha. It’s kinda weird, definitely not like anything we’ve ever faced.

VINCE I want some hard data, Doctor. Get to work.

(CONTINUED)

57.

CONTINUED:

Captain Grant contacts the bridge, the image of Commander Krieg comes up.

KRIEG Yes, Captain.

VINCE Order all ships to lay in a course for Space Station Freedom.

KRIEG Aye, sir.

EXT. SPACE The escort ships initiate their fold drives, followed by the SDF-9.

INT. SICK BAY Scott is lying awake in his bed staring at the ceiling. A nurse comes in.

NURSE Commander Bernard?

Scott turns to the nurse.

NURSE (cont’d) You have a visitor.

In walks Marcus Rush. Scott is VERY surprised.

SCOTT Marcus?

MARCUS Hello, Scott.

Scott sits up in bed as they warmly shake hands.

SCOTT How long has it been?

(CONTINUED)

58.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS Just over three years.

Scott notices the uniform.

SCOTT Well, (I see) you’re a veritech pilot.

MARCUS Yeah, I made it. I’m a Beta-fighter pilot, but I’m hoping to get rated on the Alpha pretty soon.

SCOTT You seemed like just a teenager when we left...

MARCUS I’ve thought a lot about what I’d say to you ever since I found out that you had survived.

Scott says nothing as Marcus searches for the words.

MARCUS (cont’d) Scott, why did you leave Earth right after we defeated the Invid?

Scott thinks before answering.

SCOTT I couldn’t stay, I needed to get away.

MARCUS I tried to locate you, but you were off with Mercury Base, trying to find the SDF3.

SCOTT It’s something I needed to do.

(CONTINUED)

59.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARCUS I know, you were always about “the mission.”

Scott tries to find the words to answer the questions that are written all over Marcus’ face.

SCOTT Marcus, about Marlene...

MARCUS It’s okay, Scott.

SCOTT I’m sorry.

MARCUS I don’t blame you. I mean, it was practically impossible to find out any information about the First Assault Wave.

I just want to know what happened to her.

Scott’s words are illustrated by images and flashbacks as Scott relives that terrible day.

SCOTT We arrived at Earth and deployed our ships in low orbit in preparation for the invasion. We were supposed to establish a foothold near Reflex Point, but they attacked us as we began our descent and the larger ships couldn’t get back to high orbit. We fought them as best we could, but there were just too many of them. The mission commander ordered everyone to press on instead of retreating. Marlene’s ship was destroyed during re-entry. I was right there...but I couldn’t stop it.

MARCUS How did you make it out alive?

(CONTINUED)

60.

CONTINUED: (3)

SCOTT I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.

Scott notices Marcus.

SCOTT (cont’d) I’m sorry Marcus, I wish I had a better answer for you.

MARCUS It’s o-kay, Scott; I don’t blame you.

Scott nods.

SCOTT Thanks.

MARCUS Do you ever miss her?

SCOTT Yeah, I do. She’s what kept me going.

MARCUS Did you know my parents died shortly after she left?

SCOTT Matt and Karen? I’m sorry Marcus, I didn’t know that.

MARCUS I didn’t have anyone left, after that.

The only thing I had left was becoming a pilot.

Scott is unsure of what to say, but he takes Marcus’ hand.

SCOTT I know how it feels.

Marcus takes out the wedding ring that Scott and Marlene were to have used in their wedding.

(CONTINUED)

61.

CONTINUED: (4)

MARCUS Here, I thought you might want this back.

Scott holds it for a second, but puts it back in Marcus’ hand.

SCOTT I think you should keep it. I’d like that.

MARCUS Thanks, Scott.

An alarm sounds as Commander Krieg’s voice comes over the intercom.

KRIEG (vo) Stand by for defold operation in five minutes. All hands report to your stations.

Marcus takes his cue.

MARCUS Well, I have to be going. I’ll see you soon, o-kay?

SCOTT Sure Marcus, anytime.

Marcus leaves the room.

EXT. SPACE We PAN across the scene as a large space station fills the majority of the screen.

SUPERTITLE: SPACE STATION FREEDOM - DECEMBER 4, 2045

(CONTINUED)

62.

CONTINUED:

(Note: Space Station Freedom, the main outpost base of the Robotech Expeditionary Force. Constructed, along with its sister base Space Station Liberty, which is located in the Earth’s solar system, from the remains of the captured Robotech Factory Satellite during the war against the Zentraedi, the station is where most of the ships of the REF were built and served as the main base of operations during the Sentinels War.) The SDF-9 approaches on a docking glide path and passes through the enormous doors leading to the...

INT. MAIN DOCKING BAY The SDF-9 slows to a gentle stop as mooring structures attach themselves to the battlefortress. Dock crews go into action as the immense ship begins to shut down.

INT. BRIDGE In the main passage way linking the SDF-9 to the space station, VINCE GRANT, is met by an old friend, CAPTAIN EDWIN NOBEL. Vince observes proper military decorum and salutes.

VINCE Request permission to come aboard.

NOBEL Permission granted. Welcome aboard Captain Grant.

VINCE Thank you, Captain Nobel.

NOBEL Let’s go to my office. We have a lot to talk about.

INT. SICK BAY Karen Penn walks into Sick Bay. She looks in at Scott’s bed, but sees that he’s not there.

(CONTINUED)

63.

CONTINUED:

She hears noises from nearby and sees Scott Bernard working out on the weight equipment in the physical therapy room.

KAREN Need a spot?

SCOTT No, it’s alright. I got it.

Scott sets the weightbar down.

KAREN How are you feeling?

SCOTT A lot better, thanks.

KAREN Has the doctor cleared you yet?

SCOTT I’m going to have a physical tomorrow.

Karen tosses a towel to Scott as he wipes the sweat off his brow.

SCOTT (cont’d) I’m just getting ready.

KAREN Good. I’m wondering what your plans were?

SCOTT Not sure, what did you have in mind?

KAREN I could use another Robotech Combat Officer, especially one with your experience. How does that sound?

SCOTT That sounds good. I’m anxious to get back into an Alpha fighter again.

(CONTINUED)

64.

CONTINUED: (2)

KAREN Deal then?

Karen offers her hand. Scott takes it and the two shake.

SCOTT Deal.

INT. NOBEL’S OFFICE Vince holds a drink as Nobel practices his putting technique.

NOBEL One thing I will be looking forward too is the wide-open spaces on Earth. I may even find a decent golf course again.

Nobel knocks one of the golfballs into a cup.

NOBEL (cont’d) So, how is your son Bowie doing?

VINCE He’s opened up a little jazz club with his wife.

NOBEL Oh, the Tirolian girl?

VINCE The same.

Nobel tries an unsuccessful putt, then looks at Vince.

NOBEL Make sure Jean comes down to see us. We should all have dinner tonight, just like old times.

VINCE It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You’ve done a great job here.

(CONTINUED)

65.

CONTINUED:

NOBEL I’ve done what I could, especially with what little we have in the way of resources. I’ve had to recruit personnel from the Sentinels races since there aren’t enough human crewmembers to go around. We’ve even had to shut down several sectors of the station.

VINCE Most military personnel have been reassigned to help rebuild Earth. There’s no shortage of work there.

NOBEL But you remember this place during the Sentinels War? Now, it’s practically become a ghost town.

Nobel tries another short putt.

VINCE I remember it well.

NOBEL I was rather surprised to hear that you got the SDF-9.

VINCE It wasn’t easy, believe me. I had to convince United Earth Command that this was the ideal “shakedown” cruise.

NOBEL (laughing) I can imagine. I kept thinking they were going to recall this station back to Earth any day now. The people of Earth don’t seem to care that much about what goes on out here anymore.

(CONTINUED)

66.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE Unfortunately, that’s true. The people of Earth didn’t necessarily welcome us back with ticker-tape parades, you know. The most common question we got was “Where had you been?”

NOBEL Can’t say that I blame them. I think if I had been in their shoes, I would’ve asked the same questions.

VINCE What we did out here means very little to them. Now the attitude is: you’re home now, and home is where you’re going to stay. Searching for some “lost ship” is not on their agenda.

NOBEL The scuttlebutt was that you turned down a promotion to take this mission.

Vince nods.

VINCE It was something I had to do.

NOBEL I wish I had better information for you about the SDF-3.

VINCE I’m sure you gave it all your best.

NOBEL Well, you’ll have some good people to work with. A lot of the Mercury Base Fleet is looking forward to going home, but there are a lot who have volunteered to stay. I guess they consider this part of space their home now.

(CONTINUED)

67.

CONTINUED: (3)

VINCE How soon will you be leaving?

NOBEL Tomorrow morning, on the Mountbatten. Our bags are already loaded and Beth is anxious to get home, but I’m going to miss this place.

VINCE You deserve a break and congratulations on your promotion.

NOBEL It becomes effective immediately after I turn over command here to you. I’ll help you in any way I can.

VINCE Thanks Edwin, I appreciate that.

Nobel raises his glass in a toast, Vince reciprocates.

NOBEL To friends...past, present and future.

VINCE I’ll drink to that.

Vince and Nobel touch their glasses in toast.

EXT. SPACE Space Station Freedom slowly rotates as the camera recedes.

EXT. SPACE SUPERTITLE: OPTERA

(CONTINUED)

68.

CONTINUED:

A small Spherian patrol ship assumes orbit above the planet Optera, the former homeworld of the Invid, now barren, desolate and uninhabited.

INT. BRIDGE The crewmen of the Spherian patrol ship busily work at their stations.

CREWMAN We have achieved standard orbit around Optera, Captain.

CAPTAIN Have we traced the intruder yet?

CREWMAN Nothing as yet, Captain.

CAPTAIN Begin standard scanning pattern.

EXT. SPACE The Spherian patrol ship casually goes about its normal duties.

INT. SICK BAY JEAN GRANT is finishing up her examination of SCOTT BERNARD. JEAN Well, Commander Bernard, it appears that you are perfectly healthy and fit for duty.

Jean makes a note in Scott’s medical file as he puts his shirt back on.

SCOTT Thank you, Doctor.

Scott turns and notices CADE RANDALL in the doorway.

(CONTINUED)

69.

CONTINUED:

RANDALL Ready to get back in the saddle?

Scott turns as Randall extends his hand.

RANDALL (cont’d) I’m Lieutenant Commander Randall, I’m Commander Penn’s XO. (Note: XO = Executive Officer, second-in-command.)

SCOTT Good morning, commander.

RANDALL Call me Cade.

Scott smiles and shakes his hand.

SCOTT Scott.

RANDALL Commander Penn wanted me to show you around. We’ve scheduled some simulator time for you. The Shadow Alphas we are using are a bit different than the ones used in the liberation of Earth. We’ve also got some new equipment I can help familiarize you with. Heavy duty stuff, but I’m sure you can handle yourself.

SCOTT Sounds good.

RANDALL Wanna get some breakfast in the Officer’s Mess? It’ll give you a chance to meet some of the pilots.

SCOTT Sure.

70.

EXT. SPACE Establishing shot of an Ikazuchi-class cruiser, the MOUNTBATTEN, heading away from Space Station Freedom.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE GRANT is in the command center of Space Station Freedom. On the display screen is the image of now-Rear Admiral EDWIN NOBEL. NOBEL I’m going to miss this place, Vince.

VINCE I’ll do my best to take care of it.

NOBEL Keep your guard up when you meet with representatives from the Sentinel worlds, they're a real treat.

VINCE Noted.

NOBEL I’m being assigned to the Chief of Operations. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to call.

VINCE I appreciate that. I’m sure I’ll be taking you up on your offer.

NOBEL Take care, Vince.

Nobel and Vince exchange salutes as the communication ends.

Vince looks through the large window to the starboard side as the Mountbatten, initiates its hyperspace fold reaction.

COMMANDER LOMBARD, Nobel’s adjundant, speaks to Vince.

(CONTINUED)

71.

CONTINUED:

LOMBARD Captain. When would you like to begin the inspection tour?

VINCE That will have to wait, Commander.

LOMBARD Sir...

VINCE Captain Nobel has told me that you have been a dependable and excellent station deputy commander.

LOMBARD Well... yes, sir.

VINCE Good, then I trust I can count on you as he did.

LOMBARD Absolutely, sir.

VINCE We will be investigating the Haydon sector. I shall see you when I return.

LOMBARD Aye, sir.

VINCE Erica?

Vince turns his attention to Commander Krieg.

VINCE (cont’d) Prepare the ship, we set sail at 1100 hours.

KRIEG Yes, sir.

72.

EXT. SPACE Space Station Freedom floats magestically amongst the stars.

INT. OFFICER’S MESS CADE RANDALL and Scott Bernard are having breakfast in the officer’s mess with DEAN STENCER and some of the other pilots of the Warlord Squadron when MARCUS RUSH and JONATHAN WOLF JR. walk in.

MARCUS Scott!

Marcus then notices Cade and the other older pilots and comports himself.

MARCUS (cont’d) Good morning, Commander. Do you mind if we join you?

RANDALL Sure, pull up a chair.

Cade turns to Scott and motions toward Marcus.

Randall (cont’d) You know this guy?

SCOTT I sure do.

Marcus and Wolf sit down next to Scott.

MARCUS How are you feeling?

SCOTT Pretty good.

MARCUS Scott, this is my friend, Jonathan Wolf Jr. (CONTINUED)

73.

CONTINUED:

Scott is surprised by hearing the famous name.

SCOTT Jonathan Wolf was your father?

WOLF Yes, sir! It’s an honor to meet you.

Wolf extends his hand eagerly. With just a hint of reluctance, Scott accepts.

RANDALL Scott, you served with Colonel Wolf, didn’t you?

SCOTT Yeah, I fought alongside the Colonel when he was on Earth.

RANDALL I’ll bet you have a lot of stories.

SCOTT Not really, I didn’t get to spend much time with him before...

Scott catches himself as he looks at Wolf.

SCOTT (cont’d) ...before he died.

Another pilot, Stencer speaks.

STENCER What was he like?

Scott looks again at Wolf, who is listening intently.

SCOTT He was every bit the hero people imagined he was.

(CONTINUED)

74.

CONTINUED: (2)

The “all hands” whistle signals throughout the ship as the pilots in the officer’s mess listen.

KRIEG Attention, all hands, this is the Executive Officer. All stations, commence pre-fold operations.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 flies away from Space Station Freedom.

INT. LOUIE’S LABORATORY KAREN PENN is watching a video display monitor as footage from Scott’s combat camera is replayed over and over. The other monitors are displaying the corresponding information from the targeting computer.

KAREN And you can’t get any better than that?

LOUIE I’m afraid not. The magnetic field distorted the visual image. However, we were able to construct a virtual model of the object based on the information we have.

Louie types into his computer and a crude holographic display of the mystery fighter craft that Scott fought against is displayed. Karen comes closer and looks intently.

KAREN Are you sure this isn’t some new “Invid” design?

LOUIE I don’t think so. It doesn’t have characteristics of any Invid mecha we’ve seen.

(CONTINUED)

75.

CONTINUED:

KAREN Can you explain their ability to manuever so freely in the intense gravity environment?

LOUIE Now THAT, is the mystery. If we could capture one of those fighters...

KAREN First things first; I’m interested in being able to destroy one of them.

LOUIE Well, I can’t really tell if Commander Bernard registered any hits on them. The gravitational forces would have affected the course of the missiles he fired.

KAREN Our new Shadow fighters use directed energy gun pods, those won’t be affected by gravitational forces.

LOUIE They shouldn’t be, but the Shadow fighters themselves will still find it difficult to manuever in that environment. I’ve had Kreetan working on the problem for the past day.

Angelo Dante enters the room and speaks to Karen Penn.

ANGELO Commander, Dr. Grant has certified Lt. Cmdr. Bernard for flight duty.

KAREN Excellent, where is he?

ANGELO I believe he was headed for the simulator.

(CONTINUED)

76.

CONTINUED: (2)

KAREN That’s where I’m headed. Angelo, would you mind sticking around while Dr. Nichols resumes his engine tests?

ANGELO Sure, anything I can do to help.

Angie follows Louie out to the fighter bay. Louie jumps into the cockpit of one of the Shadow Beta fighters. A technician is busy at his work station.

LOUIE All right, let’s try it.

TECHNICIAN Yes, Doctor.

ANGELO Still tinkering with your toys, Louie?

LOUIE Angie, you’d better stand back.

A hum sounds in the room as the Beta fighter’s generator powers up.

TECHNICIAN Readings are nominal.

LOUIE Excellent. O-kay, shut it down.

Angelo looks non-plussed as the generator of the Beta fighter shuts down.

ANGELO What was that all about?

LOUIE Our fighters will be carrying micro-fold generators that will be linked with the ship.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (3) LOUIE (cont’d) It should provide us with some protection and increase our ability to maneuver against the magnetic and gravitational waves that we’re sure to encounter when we reach the Haydon system.

ANGELO That’s great. Well, just thought you might need an extra hand.

LOUIE Well, I’ve got to modify all the Betas, so grab a wrench.

Angelo, looks sorry he offered to help. Overhead and throughout the ship, the voice of Commander Krieg is heard.

KRIEG (over loudspeaker) All hands, stand-by for fold reaction.

INT. BRIDGE Commander Krieg and Lieutenant Farrell are busy monitoring all the pre-fold activities and Captain Grant supervises from his command chair.

FARRELL Engineering reports full power, at your command, Captain.

KRIEG Coordinates entered for the Haydon Sector.

VINCE Initiate fold generators.

KRIEG Aye, sir. Initiating fold reaction.

The SDF-9 disappears in a bright flash of light.

77.

78.

INT. SIMULATOR ROOM Scott Bernard stands in the center of a simulator room dressed in basic combat armor. CADE RANDALL’s voice is heard over the loudspeaker.

RANDALL (vo) Ready, Commander?

SCOTT Ready here.

RANDALL (vo) Begin simulation.

The environment around Scott Bernard changes into an alien landscape with building structures. Scott’s body armor changes to show additional weapons. (Note: this is a much more advanced version of the standard Cyclone ride-armor) An Invid Shock Trooper rises out of the ground in front of Scott. He takes aim and fires a missile from his left forearm. The Shock Trooper takes a direct hit and falls dead to the ground. A second shock trooper emerges from behind a building, taking shots at Scott, who leaps away aided by the thrusters of his ride armor.

SCOTT (reax dialogue) He runs around the other side of the building as the slower Invid mecha tries to follow. Scott shoots at it from behind with his other forearm missile, causing the Invid trooper to explode. Just as he savors his direct hit, he takes fire from several Invid foot soldiers. He dives for cover inside a building as they advance on his position. He takes a grenade from his hip and arms it and throws it around the corner toward the Invid to cover his escape. The Invid are momentarily disoriented, but press on. Behind them, Scott emerges armed with a heavy rifle and proceeds to destroy the Invid soliders one by one, with precision accuracy.

79.

INT. SIMULATOR CONTROL ROOM The other Warlord pilots are gathered around the display showing Scott’s impressive ability as he finishes off the last of the Invid troopers.

AURORA He’s good.

Marcus beams with pride.

MARCUS Damn right, he’s good.

RANDALL How many did he get?

STENCER All targets destroyed. Hit percentile is 98%. Not bad for 30 seconds.

Scott enters the room, looking like he hadn’t even broken a sweat. Marcus congratulates him.

MARCUS Great job, Scott!

SCOTT Thanks, Marcus.

RANDALL Looks like you had no problems with any of the new weapons systems.

SCOTT No sweat.

KAREN Not bad at all.

SCOTT Thank you, Commander.

(CONTINUED)

80.

CONTINUED:

Karen smiles and turns her attention to the rest of the squadron.

KAREN All right, listen up. We’re heading for the Haydon sector. Dr. Nichols is modifying our Beta fighters right now to operate in extreme conditions. We won’t be spending much time there, but we want to be ready for anything. I’ve redone the flight assignments, Randall, Stencer, you’ll be flying lead with Sterling and Dante. Wolf, Dr. Nichols will be flying Beta for you. Rush, you’ll be flying Beta with Commander Bernard.

Marcus face brightens up at the news of getting to fly with Scott.

KAREN (cont’d) All right people, let’s snap to it!

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant is sitting in his chair on the bridge behind Commander Krieg and Lieutenant Farrell.

FARRELL Defold operation in two minutes.

KRIEG All stations, prepare for defold.

INT. HANGAR BAY The Warlord pilots ready their Alpha-Beta fighters. CADE RANDALL and DEAN STENCER climb into their veritechs. Angelo Dante helps Louie Nichols with his body armor and flightsuit.

ANGELO How long has it been?

(CONTINUED)

81.

CONTINUED:

LOUIE Not too long, I hope.

As Angelo gives a thumbs up, Wolf begins to climb into the Alpha Fighter cockpit. Next to them, Scott and Marcus are entering their Alpha-Beta combination. Louie begins to climb into his Shadow Beta Fighter, this one is equipped with a large radar dish instead of the standard Synchro Cannon.

WOLF All ready Dr. Nichols?

LOUIE I’m ready as I’ll ever be.

Marcus calls from his Beta cockpit next to Louie’s Beta.

MARCUS Hey Doc, you sure you can handle that mecha?

LOUIE Handle it? I practically built these new Shadow Betas!

With that, Louie’s seat withdraws into the Beta fighter cockpit. With a ‘sorry I asked’ expression, Marcus then does the same. Scott climbs into his Alpha and begins powering it up. The Warlord squadron prepares for their mission.

INT. BRIDGE Commander Krieg stands at her station on the bridge, next to her is Lieutenant Farrell.

VINCE Lieutenant Farrell, what do our long range sensors show?

FARRELL Heavy distortion, apparently due to enormous magnetic forces.

(CONTINUED)

82.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Cycle the fold drive in a continuous loop, that should protect us from the gravitational forces, at least for a little while.

Karen Penn enters the bridge.

KAREN Dr. Nichols has adjusted the micro-fold generators on our fighters. They’ll have some short-term ability to move around.

Their fold systems are synchronized so we can get out fast if we need to.

VINCE That should be long enough for us to get a good look.

KRIEG Defold operation commencing.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 defolds into Haydon space.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE Systems status.

FARRELL Scanners are functioning perfectly, beginning system-wide survey.

VINCE Communications, attempt to raise Haydon IV. SPARKS Aye, sir.

83.

EXT. SPACE The Shadow fighters emerge from the hangar bay and deploy alongside the SDF-9.

RANDALL Warlord Squadron, in position.

INT. BRIDGE Karen Penn puts on a headset to direct the fighter search.

KAREN Roger, Warlord 3, this is Archangel, proceed in standard gamma search pattern.

RANDALL (vo) Roger, Archangel.

The ship shudders and rocks everyone.

VINCE What was that?

KRIEG A large gravity wave, Captain.

FARRELL All stations nominal. No damage.

VINCE Scan grid two-five-one-zero, that was where the Peregrine was destroyed.

FARRELL Initiating scan.

Vince nods to Karen Penn.

KAREN Warlord Squadron, proceed to grid twofive-one-zero.

84.

INT. COCKPIT Randall and the others head into the search area. The ride is rough due to the magnetic forces.

LOUIE All systems nominal.

MARCUS Scott, were these waves the same as you encountered?

SCOTT Yes, the same.

RANDALL Everyone alright? Let’s hang in there.

Maintain tight formation.

ANGELO Even with these micro-fold generators, we’re not going to last against these magnetic waves for long.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE Any sign of the Haydonites?

FARRELL No sir, there’s nothing there.

Another shock wave rocks the ship.

VINCE What do you mean?

FARRELL There is nothing there. All the planets of this star system are gone.

VINCE What does Nichols see?

(CONTINUED)

85.

CONTINUED:

KAREN Dr. Nichols, are you seeing what we’re seeing?

LOUIE (vo) If you mean nothing, then we’re seeing the same thing. My sensors detect no planetary activity.

KRIEG Captain, we have a large wave approaching us on the starboard side.

Another shockwave, much more violent than the last two, shakes the ship, nearly knocking people off their feet.

VINCE That’s it, we’re getting out of here.

Standby to initiate emergency fold on your signal, Commander Krieg. Recall our fighters now.

KAREN All fighters, return to base.

KRIEG Aye, sir. Fold reaction in 5...4...3...2...1, initiate.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 initiates its fold system and disappears.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 refolds in a safe area of space.

INT. BRIDGE The bridge crew recover from the emergency fold.

(CONTINUED)

86.

CONTINUED:

KRIEG Fold successful, Captain.

VINCE Report all stations. Are all of our fighters accounted for?

FARRELL All stations report no damage.

KAREN All fighters accounted for, Captain.

INT. COCKPIT The pilots of the Warlord Squadron try to get their bearings again.

RANDALL This is Warlord three, is everyone o-kay?

WOLF This is Wolf, the Doc and I are in one piece.

AURORA I feel like I’ve been inside a washing machine.

MARCUS Scott, I think I’m going to throw up.

SCOTT Hold it until we get home.

The veritechs head back to the SDF-9.

INT. BRIDGE FARRELL All stations report no damage, Captain.

(CONTINUED)

87.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Good, stand down to Condition Green.

SPARKS Captain, we’re receiving an urgent transmission. A Sentinel diplomatic vessel is requesting a rendezvous.

VINCE (sighing) Very well then. Give them our coordinates. (muttering to himself) This is the part of the job I hate.

EXT. SPACE A Spherian scout vessel is on patrol in orbit of Optera.

INT. BRIDGE Several large crystal-like humanoids form the crew of the ship. They are in the midst of carrying out their duties.

CREWMAN No sign of intruder ship. We have a small energy reading on the planet’s surface.

CAPTAIN Prepare to land. We’re going to investigate.

CREWMAN Affirmative.

EXT. SPACE Behind the patrol craft, a fold reaction takes place and a swarm of small ships emerge (Note: exactly like the ones featured at the beginning of episode 1) and quickly attack the Spherian ship, inflicting heavy damage.

88.

INT. BRIDGE CAPTAIN Prepare to return fire.

CREWMAN Captain, we’ve lost maneuvering control.

CAPTAIN Contact Sentinel Command!

The crewman begins sending the message.

CREWMAN This is Patrol One, we are under attack!

EXT. SPACE The swarming enemy fighters quickly pounce on the Spherian scout ship, resulting in more damage. The ship spins out of control, crashing towards the planet surface.

Another enemy ship, this one larger than the fighter-sized craft, emerges from hyperspace. The smaller ships join with it as it descends toward Optera.

EXT. SPACE Another spaceship, carrying diplomats from some of the Sentinel worlds, flies alongside the SDF-9.

INT. HANGAR BAY A group of aliens emerge from the shuttlecraft as Captain Grant stands to greet them. His wife Jean nudges him.

JEAN Smile, Vince. It’s part of the job.

Vince forces a smile.

VINCE I guess.

(CONTINUED)

89.

CONTINUED:

L’RON, a Karbarran, leads the entourage. A large bearlike creature, he towers over everyone else in the room.

L’RON Captain Grant, you are a hard human to get a hold of.

VINCE Thank you. It’s good to see you again L’Ron. Vince recognizes another alien, a Spherian named BALDAN. Though humanoid in form, Spherians appear to be made out of crystaline rock.

VINCE (cont’d) Minister Baldan.

BALDAN Thank you, Captain Grant.

L’RON Captain, we should get started as soon as possible. There are several urgent matters we must discuss.

INT. LOUIE’S LAB LOUIE NICHOLS is hard at work examining the data from their survey of the Haydon Sector. The lab is a mess, cluttered with gadgets and equipment, the order of which only Louie knows. He hears a familiar voice from across the room.

ANGELO Louie, are you in here?

LOUIE Over here, Angelo.

Angelo makes his way towards Louie, nearly tripping several times.

(CONTINUED)

90.

CONTINUED:

ANGELO Commander Penn wanted me to...

Angelo stumbles over several objects and nearly falls on his face.

ANGELO (cont’d) How do you get any work done in here?

Louie is oblivious to his friend’s near accident.

LOUIE I’m studying the data our sensors recorded from the Haydon sector. It’s very interesting.

Angelo continues to look around at the strange contraptions in the room.

ANGELO (muttering under his breath) Hmmm, in this chamber, the future of Robotechnology will be born...

LOUIE What was that?

ANGELO Oh, nothing.

Angelo picks up a model mock-up of a mechanical winged horse and looks at it perplexed.

ANGELO (cont’d) Hey, what the heck is this?

Louie turns and looks at the object Angelo is holding up and quickly tries to change the subject.

LOUIE That? Oh, it’s something that Dr. Lang once gave me, but I’m not allowed to talk about that.

(CONTINUED)

91.

CONTINUED: (2)

Angelo makes a face and shrugs his shoulders and puts it back on the table.

ANGELO You know, you could hire someone to clean this place up once in a while.

LOUIE Wow! Louie nearly jumps as he watches the data on his computer.

ANGELO What is it?

LOUIE Sorry Angie, I gotta go see the Captain!

Louie takes a printout and data disk from his computer and dashes out of the room as Angelo calls after him.

ANGELO Hey, we’ve got maintenance reports to go over!

Angelo is left in the room with all of Louie’s weird collection of gadgets where he looks vexed and intimidated at the same time.

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE Various representatives from the alien races, who had allied together with the humans during the Sentinels War are gathered together in Vince Grant’s office.

L’RON As you can see Captain, that is why we urgently require your support in this matter.

(CONTINUED)

92.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Let me understand you correctly. You want Earth’s support for seeking war reparations from the Tirolians?

L’RON Our people have suffered a great deal during the Sentinels War, Captain.

VINCE Ministers, I think we have a crisis here.

The Haydon system has been completely wiped out and you want to discuss how you plan to carve up the remains of the Tirolian civilization?

BURAK, the representative from Peryton, speaks.

BURAK Captain, these are serious matters to our people. We are in the process of rebuilding not only our lives, but our societies as well.

BALDAN My fellow ministers, please allow Captain Grant to give us an update on the Haydon situation.

VINCE Thank you. Our survey of the Haydon system reveals that the planets are no longer there. They appear to have been destroyed by a black hole.

BALDAN Captain, correct me if you must, but “black holes” are not instantaneous events. It takes millenia for such phenomenon to develop, doesn’t it?

(CONTINUED)

93.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE You are correct, but nevertheless, that is what appears to be the case.

L’RON Captain, the disposition of the Tirolian empire must be dealt with.

VINCE I can see why no Tirolians are here. Now is certainly not the time for this.

L’RON Our people were subjugants of the Tirolian Robotech Masters for centuries, then we became slaves of the Invid. No more!

BURAK Captain, since the Invid have been eradicated, the only recourse we have is to pursue our grievances against the Tirolians.

VINCE I can’t believe what I am hearing! Earth will not support any such action.

L’RON If Earth were so concerned with these matters, why have they ignored us? When will they be sending an ambassador? Or when will they allow us to send representatives to Earth? It has been over a year.

VINCE It is a very difficult time on Earth right now.

L’RON Captain Nobel said the same things. Our patience is wearing thin.

(CONTINUED)

94.

CONTINUED: (3)

VINCE So is mine!

Vince just glares at the Karbarran. He is interrupted by a buzzing on his desk.

VINCE (cont’d) Yes?!

KRIEG Captain Grant.

VINCE Go ahead, Commander.

KRIEG We have an emergency distress call from a Spherian patrol shipin the Optera sector.

VINCE Go to Red Alert and prepare to fold. I’ll be right there. Ministers, you will have to excuse me.

EXT. SPACE Alarm klaxons are heard as the SDF-9 moves forward.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant enters the bridge with the determined look of a man on a mission.

FARRELL All stations standing by.

VINCE Erica, make sure our ambassadors are disembarked. Tell security to expedite that if neccessary.

At that moment, Louie bursts into the bridge.

(CONTINUED)

95.

CONTINUED:

LOUIE Captain! The Haydonite...

Louie is cut off by Lieutenant Farrell.

FARRELL The shuttlecraft has cleared our ship.

VINCE Initiate fold.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 initiates a hyperspace fold reaction.

INT. BRIDGE Vince turns his attention to Louie.

VINCE What now?

LOUIE Captain, there was an astronomical concentration of Sekiton emissions in the Haydon system. The black hole was deliberately and artificially created.

VINCE Fascinating. So the Haydonites have met with foul play?

LOUIE Apparently.

INT. HANGAR BAY The Warlord pilots are busy readying themselves for another mission.

ANGELO Another mission already? I’ve barely had a chance to catch my breath.

(CONTINUED)

96.

CONTINUED:

AURORA What’s the matter, Angie? Your old age catching up to you?

Karen Penn enters the room dressed in her flightsuit.

KAREN Alright, we’re going to be entering a “hot-zone”. We may have a ground-based rescue operation here. Randall, you’ll be leading the ground team with Bernard and Sterling. Wolf and the others will be with me in the air providing cover.

WOLF Saddle up.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 defolds and assumes orbit around Optera.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant directs operations from the bridge.

VINCE Assume standard orbit and deploy combat air patrol. The patrol ship was tracking an intruder in this system so let’s keep an eye out for it.

INT. HANGAR BAY The fighters of the Warlord Squadron launch towards Optera.

KAREN No sign of the Sentinel patrol ship.

INT. BRIDGE FARRELL Sensors detect the wreckage of Spherian patrol ship on the planet surface.

(CONTINUED)

97.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Doctor, I want you to investigate.

Louie leaves.

KRIEG Warlord Squadron, proceed to planet surface.

EXT. LANDSCAPE - OPTERA The Alpha-Beta fighters fly toward the surface of Optera and separate into different mecha and land on the surface near the wreckage of the Spherian ship. Commander Penn and her squadron survey the damage.

KAREN Crash sighted. No sign of survivors.

Scott, Randall and Sterling land their Alpha fighters in guardian-mode as their Beta fighters detach and take up defensive positions. The three remove their Hover-Cyclones from the storage compartments in their veritechs.

RANDALL Don’t worry, she’s easier to handle than the regular Cyclone.

AURORA Yeah, and they won’t let you “wipe out” either.

Marcus lands his Beta fighter and climbs out with his HoverCyclone.

SCOTT Marcus, you’re supposed to be standing guard.

RANDALL That’s alright, we could use another hand.

(CONTINUED)

98.

CONTINUED:

AURORA Angie, you got things covered up there?

ANGELO You’ve got nothing to worry about.

Louie’s Beta fighter lands and he climbs out. Louie is carrying a sensor with him and begins to observe something that piques his interest. He lowers his glasses to reveal his beady little eyes.

LOUIE I’m picking up Protoculture readings.

RANDALL Protoculture? Where?

LOUIE (pointing) There. Underground about 10 kilometers, it appears to be a cave.

RANDALL All right. Bernard, Rush, Sterling, you’re with me and the Doc. Randall, Scott, Louie, Aurora, and Marcus mount their HoverCyclones and speed off to investigate.

INT. BRIDGE Vince and the others monitor the situation.

VINCE Protoculture? Are you sure?

LOUIE (vo) Yes, Captain. Readings are definite.

KRIEG Captain, that’s impossible. All protoculture was removed from Optera.

99.

EXT. LANDSCAPE - OPTERA Scott and the others transform their Hover-Cyclones into body armor and enter the cave armed to the teeth.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Team has entered cave, sir.

VINCE Proceed with caution.

INT. CAVE The cave area is large, but seemingly deserted. It is littered with what appear to be remnants of organic machinery.

LOUIE Commander Randall?

RANDALL What is it, Doc? LOUIE Our heavy weapons can be very destructive. If we fire on the wrong area with that much power, the cave could collapse on us.

RANDALL Alright guys, let’s go to light personnel weapons.

Scott, Aurora and Marcus all pull out smaller weapons.

RANDALL (cont’d) Happy, Doc? As they enter a large area, Louie looks at his readings.

(CONTINUED)

100.

CONTINUED:

LOUIE It’s right here.

MARCUS What’s right here?

LOUIE The protoculture.

AURORA I don’t know what you are looking at, but there’s nothing...

Just as Aurora is about to finish her sentence, a rumbling is heard and dust pours out from a cave antechamber. The characteristic red eye flashes as a large Invid shock trooper enters the scene. Then a second approaches from another cave entrance. Soon, the group is surrounded by Invid mecha.

Another large Invid mecha, the size and shape of a battloid, walks towards the group. The Robotech soldiers instinctively charge their weapons.

RANDALL On my signal.

The Invid battloid’s “cockpit” opens and a beautiful woman emerges. Her voice resonates throughout the cave.

ARIEL STOP! The Invid mecha immediately halt their advance at the command of the Invid Princess ARIEL, much to everyone’s amazement.

Scott pulls back his faceshield with a look of astonished recognition.

SCOTT Marlene?!?

Marcus is stunned as he hears Scott refer to this “thing” by his sister’s name.

(CONTINUED)

101.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARCUS What?!

AURORA She’s human!

The reactions of Ariel, Scott, Randall, Aurora and especially Marcus are of shock as we pull back on the group. Their guns are drawn and tensions are high as the standoff continues.

MARCUS Scott, what the hell is going on?!

AURORA Somebody had better make a decision, pretty soon.

SCOTT Marlene?!

Scott shouts to the others.

SCOTT (cont’d) Hold your fire.

RANDALL What?!

SCOTT Marlene!

MARLENE/ARIEL looks down at Scott, with a look of calm recognition. She calls to the surrounding Invid.

ARIEL Move away!

The Invid mecha instantly and immediately back away from Scott’s group. Ariel starts to walk toward the group. Marcus aims his rifle at her, but Scott pushes it down and starts walking toward Ariel.

(CONTINUED)

102.

CONTINUED: (3)

MARCUS What are you doing?

SCOTT Trust me.

Aurora and Randall both turn toward Ariel, their guns are at the ready, but not aimed. Aurora puts a hand on Marcus’ shoulder to calm him down.

ARIEL Hello, Scott.

SCOTT Marlene, what are you doing here?

ARIEL Oh, Scott. You shouldn’t be here. There is danger.

SCOTT What do you mean?

ARIEL There is a darkness coming. I fear we may already be too late to stop it.

INT. BRIDGE Aboard the SDF-9, VINCE GRANT monitors the situation.

VINCE Where the hell are they?

Vince picks up a headset to talk with the land based units.

VINCE (cont’d) Ground base, this is Captain Grant. Are you in contact with the survey team?

(CONTINUED)

103.

CONTINUED:

ANGELO (over radio) Negative, sir. There must be some interference.

VINCE Well, it’s not going to do us much good if we don’t know what’s going on with them.

ANGELO Yes, sir. We’re working on it.

INT. CAVE The standoff has cooled off a bit as Scott and Ariel continue to talk.

SCOTT I don’t understand.

ARIEL There is a darkness coming, Scott. A terrible, terrible darkness. It has already started.

Marcus steps forward with his pistol drawn right at Ariel.

MARCUS Listen lady, I don’t know who you are, but you’d better stop speaking in riddles!

SCOTT Marcus, shut up!

Aurora pulls Marcus back and lowers his gun.

AURORA Take it easy, Marcus.

Randall admonishes Marcus.

(CONTINUED)

104.

CONTINUED:

RANDALL At ease, Rush.

Scott turns back to Ariel.

SCOTT (earnestly) Marlene, what is going on here?

ARIEL The darkness of Haydon, you must leave.

Scott doesn’t know what to make of her statement when the ground starts to shake. Everyone in the cave, both human and Invid look around. Suddenly, a large monstrous fearsome looking mechanized creature crashes through the cave wall. It immediately lunges at Ariel and her battloid. Scott holds her close as they brace for the attack. One of the Invid shock troopers throws himself at the enemy mecha, knocking it to the ground. The enemy mecha grabs the shoulders of the shock trooper and rips them out, causing the Invid to shreak violently. It fires its cannons wildly, blasting the side walls of the cave. Another enemy mecha enters the cave.

Randall whips out his heavy cannon. Aurora and Marcus also change to stronger weapons.

RANDALL Take ‘em out!

The three begin firing at the new intruder, seriously damaging it. Another mecha comes in as Ariel jumps into her Invid “Gosamu” command mecha.

MARLENE Scott, run!

Scott gets his wits about him and runs for the tunnel entrance. He calls to the others as more enemy mechas enter the cave.

SCOTT Come on!

(CONTINUED)

105.

CONTINUED: (2)

Randall, Louie, Aurora and Marcus quickly make their way out as Scott covers them. Ariel personally takes on one of the enemy mechas, slashing it with the sharp edges of her arms.

EXT. CAVE Scott and the others emerge from the cave racing out in their Hover-Cyclones.

EXT. LANDSCAPE Stencer notices the group heading toward them through his binoculars.

STENCER It looks like they are coming out.

A rumbling is heard.

LOUIE Are we having a groundquake?

ANGELO I think we’ve got trouble.

Both Louie and Angelo jump into their Beta fighters as several enemy mechas burst through the ground and charge toward the Beta fighters. Angelo’s Beta, in battloid mode, charges up its powerful synchro cannon and aims it directly at the closest approaching enemy mecha and vaporizes it with one shot. He turns to Louie.

ANGELO (cont’d) Louie!

LOUIE I’ve never seen mecha like these.

ANGELO This ain’t a sight-seeing tour.

106.

INT. BRIDGE The SDF-9 crew react to the battle.

KRIEG Captain, landing party is under attack.

Vince communicates directly with Karen Penn.

VINCE Commander Penn, we need air support now!

INT. COCKPIT Karen Penn and the rest of the pilots of the Warlord squadron...

KAREN We’re on our way! ...head for the planet surface.

EXT. LANDSCAPE Angelo notices an enemy mecha coming at Louie.

ANGELO Louie, behind you!

Louie turns and blasts the enemy mecha.

ANGELO (cont’d) Stencer, how are you holding up?

STENCER No problem, Angie! I’ve got it covered.

The Betas hold their own and protect the Alpha fighters belonging to Scott, Marcus, Aurora and Randall, though some of them have been knocked over in the fight. The four pilots arrive back and dismount from their Cyclones and get into their Alphas and Betas.

(CONTINUED)

107.

CONTINUED:

ANGELO What took you guys so long?

SCOTT Don’t shoot at the Invid!

ANGELO What?! the Invid are here too?

STENCER Don’t shoot at the Invid? Are you crazy?

RANDALL Do as he says, we’ll explain later.

Scott climbs into his Alpha and calls to Marcus.

SCOTT Marcus, I...

Scott looks to Marcus who just stares daggers at him. Marcus takes his Beta to fight the enemy mechas. Scott transforms his Alpha into battloid mode and joins the battle as the fighting continues. We see various shots of our heroes in action as a seemingly endless stream of enemy mechas come forth. Karen Penn and the reinforcements arrive to give support as a number of super large enemy mechas erupt from the ground and tower over everything on the battlefield. A few Alpha and Beta fighters are destroyed, but our heroes fight on. Scott finishes off one of the smaller bad guys as another large one comes from behind. Scott hears Ariel’s voice in his head.

ARIEL (vo) Scott, look out!

Scott reacts and moves out of the way as he sees Ariel’s Invid fighter, transformed into “fighter” mode swoops in and blasts away, giving Scott time to escape. Karen Penn begins to lead a retreat.

(CONTINUED)

108.

CONTINUED: (2)

KAREN All units, fall back.

The battloids all retreat and regroup as the enemy onslaught continues relentlessly.

Things begin to look very bad for our heroes as they prepare to make a “last stand”.

ANGELO Anyone have a plan?

AURORA Just keep shooting, Angie!

As one of the larger enemy mechs prepares to fire on the position of the retreating veritechs a large shadow falls over the battlefield. It is the SDF-9 and its short range gun batteries are powered up. The powerful cannons rain down on the enemy mechas, obliterating them.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant and the other bridge officers survey the aftermath of the battle.

FARRELL All targets destroyed.

VINCE Someone please tell me what an Invid mecha is doing in the middle of our combat squadron?

KRIEG It’s apparently an ally, Captain.

VINCE An ally?

109.

INT. HANGAR BAY The Warlord Squadron pilots rest after the battle in the immense hangar bay of the SDF-9. Wolf comes up to Marcus.

WOLF You o-kay?

MARCUS Yeah, I’m alright.

Marcus lets out an exhausted breath, his heartbeat still racing.

MARCUS (cont’d) Whoa..........

Angelo goes up to Aurora.

ANGELO How’re you doing kid?

Aurora smiles.

AURORA That was intense.

Angelo pats her on the shoulder, she pats his hand. Into the scene walks Vince Grant, Karen Penn, Louie Nichols and CADE RANDALL. Karen addresses everyone as she walks with the Captain.

KAREN Everyone check out your equipment. I want damage reports in to Lieutenant Dante ASAP. LOUIE Our Shadow veritechs appear to have performed admirably.

VINCE How many did we lose?

(CONTINUED)

110.

CONTINUED:

RANDALL Two, Valentine and Pawlak.

Karen and Grant both feel the loss, but maintain their military bearing.

VINCE Now how did this all start?

The trio look over at Scott and Ariel, who are sitting together. Scott rises up and salutes.

SCOTT Captain Grant.

Vince looks over at Ariel.

VINCE Who is this?

SCOTT Her name is Marlene, sir.

Marcus overhears the name as he looks over at Scott with a look that is a mix of confusion and anger.

SCOTT (cont’d) Actually, her name is Ariel.

VINCE (annoyed) Well, what is it Commander?

Vince turns directly to Ariel.

VINCE (cont’d) Who are you?

ARIEL I am Ariel, Princess of the Invid, I serve the Regess.

(CONTINUED)

111.

CONTINUED: (2)

VINCE I’m Captain Vince Grant of the SDF-9.

What are you doing here?

ARIEL I came here to investigate a disturbance we detected on our homeworld.

VINCE But there is nothing here now. This planet is dead.

ARIEL Yes, there is nothing left. We are too late.

SCOTT But Marlene, there was something here wasn’t there? That’s why you were in the cave.

ARIEL Yes, but it has already been stolen.

VINCE What has been stolen?

ARIEL The seeds of our destruction. The Flower of Death.

SCOTT The Flower of Death?

KAREN Scott, what is she talking about?

ARIEL The Flower of Life is the source of the protoculture, which nourishes and protects us. But wherever there is a white, there is a black. A day...a night.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

112.

CONTINUED: (3) ARIEL (cont’d) We came back to retrieve the Flower of Death, but we have failed.

LOUIE You mean the Flower of Death forms the basis of some sort of “antiprotoculture”?

ARIEL Yes. You are correct.

VINCE Then who are they?

Vince points to the recovered wreckage of one of the enemy mecha.

ARIEL They are from Haydon.

VINCE Haydon?

ARIEL Yes, and they have awakened.

VINCE I think I have heard enough of this.

Commander Penn, I want you to take this prisoner and place her in custody aboard the ship.

SCOTT Prisoner? Captain, she can help us!

Ariel puts her hand on Scott’s shoulder.

ARIEL It’s alright Scott. I’ll go with them.

Karen summons two of her pilots who take Ariel away.

(CONTINUED)

113.

CONTINUED: (4)

SCOTT Captain, please.

VINCE (coldly) I will debrief you later, Commander. I’m very interested in hearing your side of the story.

Vince walks away leaving a dejected Scott. Randall speaks to him.

RANDALL She did help us. The Captain is going to know that.

KAREN Scott, who is she? How do you know her?

SCOTT It’s a long story.

A voice comes from behind Scott.

MARCUS I’ve got the time.

Scott looks at a glaring Marcus, unsure of what to say.

MARCUS (cont’d) You called her Marlene. Why?!

SCOTT Marcus, I...

MARCUS Who is she? (beat) WHAT is she?

SCOTT She’s an Invid who took human form. When I was in the resistance on Earth, we discovered her and took her in.

(CONTINUED)

114.

CONTINUED: (5)

MARCUS You took in an Invid?

SCOTT We didn’t know she was an Invid at first.

MARCUS But you named her, this “Invid”, you named her Marlene?! Like you would a pet dog?

SCOTT Marcus, that’s not fair.

Marcus can no longer hold his rage as he slugs Scott hard, sending him falling to the ground. Marcus jumps on Scott as the other pilots rush to see the fight.

MARCUS (shouting) My sister died fighting the Invid! How dare you do that to my sister’s name!

Scott manages to toss Marcus off of him. Before Marcus can attack again, he is held back by Wolf and Sterling. Karen and Randall separate Marcus and Scott.

KAREN I’m putting you on report, Rush.

Marcus is so angry he barely acknowledges her. Karen turns to Scott.

KAREN (cont’d) I think you’d better get out of here.

SCOTT I’m sorry.

Scott starts to walk away when Marcus calls to him.

MARCUS Hey, Scott!

(CONTINUED)

115.

CONTINUED: (6)

Scott turns around as Marcus rips his necklace off and throws it at him.

MARCUS (cont’d) HERE! Scott catches the object as Marcus storms off. Aurora tries to put her hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs it off. Scott opens his hand to reveal the wedding ring that he had bought for Marcus’ sister Marlene, all those years ago. Karen puts her hand on his shoulder.

KAREN I think we should talk.

Scott, still looking at the ring, is only able to contemplate this matter for a few seconds when a loud alarm sounds from the SDF-9. Commander Krieg’s booming voice is heard.

KRIEG All hands, initiate emergency take-off.

All fighters scramble, immediately! We are under attack.

Karen Penn takes charge of the situation.

KAREN Alright, let’s move people! Get to your Veritechs!

The pilots, including Marcus, rush to their veritechs.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant enters the bridge, which is buzzing with activity.

VINCE Erica, what’s going on?

(CONTINUED)

116.

CONTINUED:

KRIEG Captain, we have detected over three dozen bogies approaching Optera. They just defolded.

VINCE Full thrusters, I want us in orbit NOW! EXT. LANDSCAPE The SDF-9 rises quickly from the surface as the Veritechs fly off ahead of it.

EXT. SPACE Approaching Optera, several enemy fighter craft along with a few larger craft begin to encircle the planet.

EXT. OPTERA The SDF-9 rises above the atmosphere as the Alpha and Beta fighters streak ahead to intercept the enemy spacecraft.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant commands the ship.

VINCE Sparks, transmit friendship messages. If these are Haydonites, I want to get to the bottom of this.

SPARKS Aye, sir.

EXT. OPTERA The enemy ships begin to surround the planet. Energy starts passing between them as they form a web that encircles the planet.

117.

INT. BRIDGE SPARKS Sir, no response from our hails.

KRIEG Warlord Squadron, 30 seconds to intercept.

EXT. SPACE The Alpha and Beta veritech fighters of the Warlord Squadron race toward the approaching enemy.

INT. COCKPIT KAREN Contact in 25 seconds. Arm all weapons.

SCOTT Those are the same craft that attacked the Peregrine.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Enemy targets now closing on our fighters.

INT. COCKPIT RANDALL Weapons hot!

KAREN All fighters lock on target.

INT. BRIDGE Vince Grant gives the order.

VINCE All fighters attack!

118.

EXT. SPACE The veritechs cross into the swarm of enemy fighter craft. A medley of images of space fighter combat follow as the Shadow Alpha and Beta fighters of the Warlord Squadron engage the enemy ships.

The energy between the orbiting Haydonite craft begins to increase. Soon the entire atmosphere of the planet seems to be thrown into chaos, as the energy of Optera is being used against itself.

Sterling, Wolf and Randall fly in and strafe some of the orbiting ships.

RANDALL Let’s take some of these bastards out!

AURORA Right behind you, sir.

The group is successful in destroying quite a few but they have little effect overall as other Haydonite craft replace them as quickly as they are destroyed. Other Haydonite fighters chase the attacking Alphas and Betas away.

The planet Optera begins to collapse upon itself, lava and magma from the planet’s mantle fire their way to the surface, ripping the former Invid homeworld apart in a dynamic cataclysm.

INT. BRIG Ariel (Marlene) is alone in a prison cell. There is no one else around except the faint noises and rumblings of a battle going on outside her cell. Still, Ariel can feel the death of her homeworld. Though the world had already been devastated, there was still some life, however faint, left to it, now as we cut in between scenes of the planet destroying itself, Marlene feels the tears and the agony herself as her former world dies its painful death.

119.

EXT. SPACE The SDF-9 finds itself under attack from enemy fighters.

Elsewhere, three large Haydonite ships break toward the SDF9.

INT. BRIDGE The situation is going from bad to worse.

KRIEG Three large enemy vessels approaching on attack vector.

VINCE Prepare main gun for firing.

FARRELL Main gun, 85%. Target one has been acquired.

KRIEG Warlord Squadron, clear out!

EXT. SPACE KAREN Warlords, break off!

The veritechs scramble to get far away from the blast path of the SDF-9’s main guns.

INT. BRIDGE FARRELL Main gun at 100% A determined Vince Grant gives the command.

VINCE FIRE!

120.

EXT. SDF-9 The main guns of the SDF-9 power up and BLAST towards one of the enemy ships. The Haydonite battleship has an energy shield around it, but the blast from the SDF-9 is only stopped briefly before tearing deep into the ship and blowing it apart. The two other Haydonite ships maneuver to a better position.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE Prepare to fire again!

KRIEG Captain, look!

Vince stands up from his chair and moves forward. The entire bridge crew looks in awe as a huge darkness begins to cover Optera. As they watch, a magnetic energy wave strikes the ship, rocking everyone.

LOUIE Captain, the planet is beginning to form into a black hole.

EXT. SPACE The pilots of the Warlord Squadron are stunned as they witness the awesome catastrophe.

SCOTT My god...

Another magnetic wave strikes several veritechs.

KAREN All fighters, retreat to Archangel.

The magnetic forces make it harder for several veritechs to make their way back as they come under attack by the Haydonite fighters.

(CONTINUED)

121.

CONTINUED:

Wolf, Sterling and Randall link up with their Beta fighters (piloted by Marcus, Angelo and Stencer respectively) and begin to form a defensive line to protect the retreating veritechs. While attached, the Alphas transform into battloid mode.

RANDALL Give me Synchro-control.

STENCER You’ve got it!

Randall lines up many enemy targets in his sights and fires the powerful Synchro cannon, destroying dozens of Haydonite mecha. The Wolf-Marcus and Aurora-Angelo tandems follow suit, their blasts effectively staving off the onslaught.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE Engineering, prepare for emergency fold.

MASOUD Captain, the power mains are channeled to the main guns.

VINCE Can’t we use auxiliary power for the emergency fold?

MASOUD We can sir, but auxiliary power will only be enough to take us away.

LOUIE Captain, auxiliary power won’t be enough for the micro-fold reactors on the Beta fighters and most of the veritechs have separated for combat.

VINCE Damn!

(CONTINUED)

122.

CONTINUED:

FARRELL Main gun, ready.

Vince turns his attention back to the battle.

KRIEG Enemy ship is in range.

VINCE Fire!

The SDF-9 fires another shot, this one is broad and destroys hundreds of the smaller ships that were forming the net around Optera.

INT. BRIDGE The situation is growing more and more serious.

FARRELL Main gun, energy level 34%.

VINCE Target the command ship. The one that is feeding the collapse.

KRIEG Captain, two large ships, closing fast to the front port side.

Another gravity shock wave shakes the SDF-9.

LOUIE Captain, the veritechs won’t be able to take much more of the gravitational pounding, and neither will we if we don’t get out of here.

The SDF-9 takes a hit, this time it is weapons fire from the approaching Haydonite ships. Things are now desperate.

VINCE How soon can we fire again?

(CONTINUED)

123.

CONTINUED:

FARRELL Two minutes, Captain!

EXT. SPACE The Alpha and Beta fighters separate to form a defense line around the SDF-9. The gravity waves are making it much more difficult for the veritechs to maneuver.

KAREN All veritechs, fall back.

Aurora, Angelo, Stencer, and Scott all retreat closer to the ship. Randall spots several Haydonite fighters coming from behind the ship.

RANDALL Look out!

Randall takes them on, destroying one but is then hit by several shots causing his Alpha to explode. His Beta pilot partner, Dean Stencer reacts.

STENCER NO!!!

Three more Haydonite battleships close in on the SDF-9.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Three more ships closing in.

A look of dread shows on the face of Vince Grant and the bridge crew. This is going to be a fight to the death.

EXT. SPACE The Haydonite ships continue to fire at the SDF-9 when a bright flash of light appears above them. The brightness is almost blinding to the view of the crew and pilots as they all react to the brilliant display.

(CONTINUED)

124.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Oh my god...

The crew and pilots react with awe and amazement as the SDF-3 passes before them. The entire battlefortress is illuminated with energy as its image radiates and ripples. Caught between normal space and hyperspace, it appears almost like a ghost ship.

KAREN It’s the SDF-3!

AURORA I don’t believe it!

The SDF-3’s appearance causes the Haydonite ships to panic as they quickly move out of the way. A number of them end up right in the path of the SDF-9, which has been given the time to power up its main gun.

FARRELL Main gun at maximum power.

VINCE FIRE! The blast from the SDF-9 cuts right through several large Haydonite ships and impacts directly with the main control ship, breaking its energy link to Optera. The explosive energy from the planet, which was being harnessed by the control ship to form the black hole now lashes out indiscriminately, destroying the orbiting Haydonite spacecraft. The other Haydonite ships begin moving away.

MARCUS They’re retreating!

WOLF Marcus, the SDF-3!

Wolf and Marcus chase after the SDF-3 which seems to be phasing in and out of reality.

125.

INT. BRIDGE Aboard the SDF-9, the crew also notices the SDF-3.

VINCE What’s happening to it?

LOUIE It appears to be caught between dimensional space.

VINCE What?

Vince turns to Krieg.

VINCE (cont’d) Get us as close as we can and recover all fighters.

EXT. SPACE Marcus and Wolf chase after the SDF-3, which pulsates with energy as if trying to “break through”. Suddenly, there is a sharp, bright flash that appears at the center of the ship and a small object emerges. We see a close up of this capsule as it is practically torn apart as it tries to pass from inter-dimensional space into normal space.

INT. COCKPIT In Marcus’ cockpit, the voice of Karen Penn is heard.

KAREN Warlord Leader to all pilots, return to base immediately!

Marcus is intent on his radar and visual screen. He sights the capsule.

MARCUS There it is!

(CONTINUED)

126.

CONTINUED:

Wolf reacts in his cockpit.

WOLF I see it! I’m going to bring us closer.

The sensors of the Alpha-Beta lock onto the object, which has broken up. The veritech must also ride the gravitational waves still emanating from Optera.

INT. BRIDGE VINCE Have all veritechs been recovered?

KRIEG Wolf and Rush say that the SDF-3 ejected an object. They are trying to retrieve it.

Karen Penn enters the bridge still dressed in her flight gear.

EXT. SPACE While still attached to its Beta fighter, Wolf’s Alpha transforms to battloid mode. It virtually “swims” its way toward the remnants of the capsule where a spacesuit comes into view.

INT. COCKPIT WOLF It’s a body!

MARCUS Grab it, Wolf!

WOLF I’m trying!

127.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Captain, look!

The crew on the bridge of the SDF-9 look to see the SDF-3 fade and then disappear completely.

VINCE No...

EXT. SPACE The Alpha-Beta strains against the gravity waves as it finally reaches the floating spacesuit. Wolf grabs it gently.

WOLF I’ve got it!

MARCUS Let’s get out of here!

The Alpha-Beta races back to the SDF-9.

INT. BRIDGE KRIEG Wolf and Marcus have recovered a survivor!

VINCE As soon as they arrive, initiate emergency fold. Order Doctor Grant to have the emergency medical team ready.

INT. COCKPIT Marcus and Wolf both look at the motionless body in the hands of the Alpha fighter. Marcus zooms in the camera to reveal the face of a beautiful woman.

(CONTINUED)

128.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS (to himself) Who is she?

We close in on a shot of her face as we CUT TO...

INT. SICK BAY The woman’s body, still in the space suit is placed on the operating table. DR. JEAN GRANT directs her medical team.

JEAN Nurse, remove that helmet!

One of the nurses quickly unfastens the helmet as Dr. Grant takes a pair of laser cutters and begins cutting away at the space suit. The body begins to violently jerk (in an inhuman, mechanical way) before it settles down.

NURSE She’s going into seizures.

Jean turns to one of her nurses.

JEAN Get me a level 9 sedative.

The nurses looking at the body suddenly stop what they are doing.

NURSE Doctor, look!

Jean Grant looks at the body and instead of seeing blood and human organs, she sees a complex mix of mechanical and cybernetic body parts.

JEAN Get Doctor Nichols.

129.

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE Vince Grant calmly reads the computer screen on his desk as Scott Bernard stands at rigid attention in front of him.

(This continues for a while until the pause becomes very noticeable). Grant finally breaks the silence.

VINCE That’s a very interesting story, Commander.

SCOTT Yes, sir.

VINCE Your official report from Earth only reflects a portion of what you have just told me. Why is that?

SCOTT I was concerned for her welfare after the end of the war.

VINCE So, she ended up living amongst some friends of yours. Fellow resistance fighters?

SCOTT Yes, sir.

VINCE But now she’s here. Having rejoined the Invid.

SCOTT Apparently, sir.

VINCE You understand that she will have to be interrogated.

(CONTINUED)

130.

CONTINUED:

SCOTT Yes, sir. I think she is willing to cooperate with us.

VINCE Good, because I want you find out what is going on. There is something much bigger going on here, you understand that?

SCOTT Absolutely, sir.

VINCE You have an exemplary service record, one that everyone should envy. Because of that, I am going to place my trust in you. (beat) Don’t make me regret that.

SCOTT You can count on me, sir.

VINCE You’re dismissed.

Scott does an “about-face” and leaves passing Karen Penn, who was standing in the back of the room.

INT. CORRIDOR Scott steps outside and sees Marcus waiting. Marcus glares at him for a few seconds, then turns his face back to the front.

Scott thinks about saying something but then turns and walks away.

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE Karen Penn comes up to Captain Grant.

VINCE Are you comfortable with what I want to do with Commander Bernard?

(CONTINUED)

131.

CONTINUED:

KAREN Yes. I’m also going to need a new XO to replace Lieutenant Commander Randall, and I’d like Scott to take the job.

VINCE Very well. Send in Lieutenant Rush.

INT. CORRIDOR Marcus waits outside when Karen Penn comes through the door.

KAREN The Captain will see you now.

Marcus walks in...

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE ...and makes his way to Vince Grant’s desk where he stops and salutes.

MARCUS Third Lieutenant Marcus Rush, reporting as ordered.

Vince returns the salute and looks at Karen.

VINCE Thank you, Commander. Please excuse us.

Vince sits down as Karen Penn leaves, but he does not allow Marcus to assume the “at ease” position.

VINCE (cont’d) What do you want, Rush?

MARCUS I want to be reassigned, sir.

VINCE Why?

(CONTINUED)

132.

CONTINUED:

MARCUS I do not feel that I can work anywhere near Commander Bernard, sir. I’d like to go somewhere else.

VINCE Well, I don’t really care what you’d “like” to do. Request denied.

MARCUS Sir, the Invid killed my sister.

VINCE Well, do you think that makes you someone special?

MARCUS No, sir.

VINCE Do you have any idea how many men and women I have lost under my command fighting the Invid?

MARCUS No, sir.

VINCE I don’t have the time to reassign people just because they feel “uncomfortable”.

You are a military officer, so you will adjust your attitude or I will adjust it for you.

MARCUS Yes, sir.

VINCE Ever since man set sail on the sea, the word of the Captain of the ship has been THE LAW and on this ship, my word is LAW. You will conduct yourself accordingly. Is that understood?

(CONTINUED)

133.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARCUS Yes, sir.

VINCE You get into another fight or in any kind of trouble with Commander Bernard, and I’ll send you to work in a Karbarran core mine, then we’ll see how tough you are.

Is that understood, Lieutenant?

MARCUS Yes, sir!

VINCE (growling) Get out of my office!

Marcus quickly performs an “about face” and sheepishly exits the room.

INT. HANGAR BAY Angelo Dante and Aurora Sterling are looking at the wreckage of one of the Haydonite ground mechas. Still imposing and fearsome even in pieces.

AURORA What do you think it is?

ANGELO I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s trouble.

Angelo puts a protective arm around Aurora’s shoulders.

INT. AIRLOCK A memorial service for Cade Randall and the other lost pilots is being held. As a chaplain reads a memorial message...

CHAPLAIN Eternal Father, King of birth, Who didst create the heaven and earth, (MORE) (CONTINUED)

134.

CONTINUED: CHAPLAIN (cont’d) And bid the planets and the sun Their own appointed orbits run; O hear us when we seek thy grace For those who soar through outer space.

Stencer puts some of Randall’s personal effects in a pod, as the rest of the Warlord pilots salute their fallen comrades, while saluting, Marcus looks at Scott but the two do not make eye contact. The pod is then launched into space.

DISSOLVE TO...

INT. LOUIE’S LAB The mysterious mechanical android body is lying on an examination table with electronic monitoring equipment hooked up to it. The name on the clipboard attached to the bed reads: “JANICE EM”. Louie looks over at her.

LOUIE Well, Sleeping Beauty, I don’t have any magic potions to help wake you up.

The face of the body smiles peacefully as Louie goes about adjusting equipment. While he is doing this, he is humming an old tune called “We Will Win”, as he hums we start to hear the faint voice of the android start to pick up the tune and begins to sing softly.

JANICE Life is only what we choose to make it...Let’s just take it...Let us be free...We can find the glory we all dream of...and with our love...we can win.

Louie is so stunned his glasses fall off.

INT. CAPTAIN’S OFFICE Jean Grant is sitting on a couch with her husband Vince Grant.

(CONTINUED)

135.

CONTINUED:

VINCE Just when we thought we had defeated all the evil forces in the universe...

JEAN The course of life is something that never goes according to plan.

DISSOLVE TO...

INT. OBSERVATION DECK Marcus is sitting alone on the observation deck when Aurora Sterling shows up.

AURORA Mind if I join you?

MARCUS Please...

AURORA I know you must be feeling pretty confused now.

MARCUS Thanks Aurora, but I...

AURORA My father fell in love with an alien. She was a Zentraedi warrior, his mortal enemy who had sworn to kill him.

Marcus is surprised at the inference she is making.

AURORA (cont’d) If true love brought my parents together, isn’t it possible that Scott might’ve found something similar in this Invid girl?

Marcus doesn’t know what to say.

(CONTINUED)

136.

CONTINUED:

AURORA (cont’d) Well, just giving you something to think about.

Aurora leans in gives Marcus a kiss on the forehead, he seemed to be expecting, or at least wanted one of the lips and gives a look of slight disappointment.

AURORA (cont’d) I’ll see you later.

Marcus is left to ponder as he looks out the window at the stars.

EXT. SDF-9 We see an outside view of the Observation Deck with Marcus looking through the window as we pull back from the SDF-9 until it disappears against the stars as we...

FADE OUT. THE END