Will the team be able to move a comet before it impacts the Earth?
Angel and May is an audio-only podcast, produced by a not-for-profit group of community theatre supporters.
See more on our website: www.angelandmay.com
Please support us through our Patreon page as we have no other source of income.
Will the team be able to move a comet before it impacts the Earth?
Angel and May is an audio-only podcast, produced by a not-for-profit group of community theatre supporters.
See more on our website: www.angelandmay.com
Please support us through our Patreon page as we have no other source of income.
S3-E25-CALVING CRASH
INT. EARLY WARNING -1 - 7.3
LOCATION: KRIS's Office on Earth
KRIS receives a message of the impending likely collision
of the comet. She decides to start moving her assets off
Earth but needs to do so with plausible deniability.
INTERCOM
KRIS
You called STEVEN?
STEVEN
(Intercom voice) Yes KRIS, that
new fangled box, just bleeped and
sent an encrypted email. You told
me to tell you if it does that.
The mail is in your inbox.
KRIS
OK, thanks for the heads up.
INTERCOM
STEVEN
Anything else I can do Boss?
KRIS
No not at the moment, but stand by
for a busy day, I suspect this
might be bad news.
INTERCOM
KRIS
Let me see decryption app, OK lets
decrypt. (Pause) Ah, OK done. Oh,
shit, shit, OK stay calm, now what
do I do. OK, number one priority
get assets out of harms way and
their personal and families as
well. (INTERCOM) STEVEN can you
get me the ship movements up to
and beyond the 4th July, thank you
STEVEN. (Intercom click) (Thinking
to herself) Priority two, have
plausible deniability of fore
knowledge. (Pause) Shit, this is
bad. OK keep a level head
Kristina, at least we got warning.
INTERCOM
KRIS
(Intercom) STEVEN could you get
the maintenance contracts I'm
going to move some ships lunar
side for maintenance and I need to
see the contract clauses. Thank
you. Oh and I need to see the
planned off Earth training and
redeployment schedules for all
personal please. Thank you!
EXT. COMET FIREFIGHT 1 - 7.4
LOCATION: Comets surface
Incursions teams start to converge on the enemy.
JACINTA's team is first and discovers very little
resistance. They find that the protagonists have already
left. BOY leading another incursion team discovers a
load of Friedlander's chained up in an ice cave. They
realise that the comet is rigged for detention because
the enemy wanted to calve the comet deliberately to cause
the maximum plume. They still decide to readjust the
rockets and add more, because any vector changes will
still manifest even if the comet is broken up. EVERYWHEN
sends out sensors to try and detect where the charges are
laid.
RUDI
So according to my countdown timer
the rounds should hit about now.
Hold on to your hats ladies!
DISTANT BOOMING
NOISES
JACINTA
From what I can see we had good
hits on all targets except that
one behind the bluff. Oh I can
see team Beta on the move.
RUDI
Can you see BOY.
JACINTA
I think so, oh he is leading a
charge.
COSTAS
So the old bastards got still got
his space legs then.
RUDI
Soldier, respect please.
COSTAS
Oh, I respect him Marm, but he
made me clean my suit three times
last week.
JACINTA
Well, I didn't want to say
anything, but..
COSTAS
So it was you that dubbed me in.
JACINTA
Well, it was getting stinky.
COSTAS
Well, I had a lot of vacuum duty's
recently, it never gets a chance
to get aired.
ALEX
Jesus, you two are like an old
married couple. Its bad enough
with old SHAS with SOPHIE and now
you two.
COSTAS
Relax their ain't never going to
be luv between me and old Sarg
here, she is far too crusty.
Besides I have a girlfriend!
SHARROW
Oh, what she like?
COSTAS
She's a beau Chicca women from the
'Minories'. She don't like the
fact that I'm a soldier, wants me
to leave the RCBS and settle down.
JACINTA
(Snort of derision) Like that's
going to happen! You're a bit
young to be settling down COSTAS
you've only just got some bum
fluff on your face. You're not
even a man yet. (Laughter)
COSTAS
Well your just envious of my
bodolicious moves.
JACINTA
Yeah right. So sexy Gurl, you
ready to move out?
ALEX
Anything to get away from this
conversation.
TIMEPASSING
BOY
Marm, we have gone through the
whole rocket area and encountered
little resistance. There is
something wrong.
RUDI
Yes it was entirely too easy. OK,
focus on reversing the rockets
thrust and get our additional
thrusters, mounted and firing.
How many of the enemy, have we
found.
BOY
Still cleaning up, we have about
25 dock workers unarmed who were
preparing to leave, we found a
small transporter.
ZED
Ah, Marm, I think you better come
and see this for yourself better
bring the major we found an ice
cave.
RUDI
OK ZED were on our way. JACINTA
stay and coordinate, we better
check this cave out.
JACINTA
Yes Marm.
ZED
Over here!
RUDI
What the hell is this. Oh no not
you lot again.
BOY
So Colonel HARTMANN we meet again
in strange circumstances. May I
enquire as to why you are chained
up.
HARTMANN
We were kidnapped, well we were
drugged, then we woke up here.
They have been making us work
these crappy boosters.
We were supposed to be going on
some special project and the fees
looked good. Obviously too good.
Now can you get us the hell out of
here.
BOY
Naturally we have no combat
contract outstanding, against you.
So of course we would expect the
same non aggression to be
reciprocated.
HARTMANN
Of course, it goes without saying.
Look as much as I would like to
chat, the bastards that set us up
have rigged demolition charges and
we have no idea when they are
going to blow.
BOY
Marm, did you get that?
RUDI
I did major. You free these
Friedlander's I will focus on the
charges. JACINTA.
JACINTA
Marm!
RUDI
Change of plan. This rock is
rigged to blow, get COSTAS and
several maniples searching for any
sign of boreholes, they may blow
at any moment. Tell them to ready
their suit thrusters in case of
them being blown of this rock!
JACINTA
Roger.
RUDI
EVERYWHEN can you open the worm
hole and start emptying the base.
EVERYWHEN
But you only just set it up.
RUDI
Well, we have just discovered some
disturbing information.
EVERYWHEN
You humans are so very
indeterminate.
RUDI
Buddy, you have no idea. Now we
are apparently sitting on a rock
that is rigged to blow. Do you
want to hang around.
EVERYWHEN
Well, it obviously does not affect
me unduly but, oh dear that ruins
my trajectory calculations. May I
recommend we still deploy as many
boosters as we can to correct the
vectors. The interesting thing is
they have imparted a slight spin,
I projected the path and I
determined that this comet will
give a very spectacular display in
the skies over the USA on the 4th
of July. Running some projections
I came up with this shape.
RUDI
That's a swastica! No wait its
the other way around, its the old
original Hindu symbol! (Pause)
That is very strange EVERYWHEN,
very strange indeed. Look we can
talk about this later but for now
can we focus on the present.
EVERYWHEN
Of course
RUDI
Why would they blow the comet.
EVERYWHEN
I surmise that they wanted to
increase its luminosity.
Unfortunately if this Comet calves
it will really threaten Earth with
a catastrophe, they miscalculated.
RUDI
Oh, this just gets better and
better.
EVERYWHEN
Well we still have a chance, a big
rock or small rock, it still
carries the kinetic energy of its
source. Even the velocities of any
explosion are relatively small
compared to that massive vector.
In other words, we need to impart
a vector change, explosion or no
explosion.
So I propose that our plans don't
really change, the more we can
modify the path before any event
the better.
RUDI
Yes I thought as much, just get
anything non essential to the
thruster operation and any non
essential personal back to base.
Prepare for troops and equipment
to retreat out as we deploy motors
in a progressive manner. Oh and
move the temporary base off the
surface and stand off around 1000
meters out.
EVERYWHEN
Roger I have got that. I am
perhaps can assist. I can deploy
a neutrino scanner which will
orbit the rock. I will try to find
the charges for you. It will take
about half an hour to get a crude
scan.
RUDI
Great thanks EVERYWHEN. OK, we'll
focus on the thrusters then. Lets
just hope that we have time.
EVERYWHEN
Roger. I will be able to perhaps
tell you more in half an hour.
RUDI
JACINTA have you found any
boreholes yet.
JACINTA
No we have found some drilling
equipment.
RUDI
OK, if you find any detention
cord, see if you can trace it back
to a control point. EVERYWHEN is
deploying a special scanner he is
going to try and find these
charges for us. In the mean time
lets get moving and set up as many
new thrusters and switch over the
old ones as we can. We need to
move this god forsaken COMET
before someone has a very bad
Independence day.
JACINTA
Roger Marm. I suspect they have
deployed auto charges with
individual clocks, its much
easier. I don't think we will
find a central control, it takes
to much time to set up.
EXT. ICE CAVE 1 - 7.5
LOCATION: Ice cave on surface of Comet
BOY and HARTMANN make peace and the Friedlander's agree
to assist in the efforts to move the comet. BOY agrees
to give passage off the comet because the Friedlander's
have no ship, they have deliberately marooned by STANK.
HARTMANN
So Colonel what is going on? We
woke up and found we are in our
combat suits and chained in this
cage.
BOY
I think someone has it in for you.
Look we don't have a lot of time,
you are on a comet, its heading
for earth, were trying to change
its trajectory. I think someone
wants you dead? Any previous
clients perhaps?
HARTMANN
It's that bastard STANK, he
refuses to pay our invoices, he
blames us for the loss of that
bloody mine.
BOY
Yes sorry about that, we were just
meeting some contract conditions,
no hard feeling personally old
chap.
HARTMANN
Yes I do understand that Colonel,
we are both professionals. I
suspect that STANK would be glad
to see both of our operations
eliminated.
BOY
I am sure you are correct, we have
had several occasions to cross
swords with that bastard.
Look can you get your troops to
give us some help we are setting
up thrusters to try and undo the
change in this comets trajectory
and the more hands the merrier.
We can talk later once we get off
this rock.
HARTMANN
Yes of course Colonel, anything to
stick the sword into that
Swinehardt.
BOY
Thank you, much appreciated.
HARTMANN
Troops, did you hear that? We are
to assist the RCBS under the
command of Colonel Williamson.
Major I place myself and my troops
at your disposal.
BOY
Very good Colonel, if you could
take any of the existing thrusters
and completely reverse their
vectors and turn them to full
thrust, or as high as you can
without blowing us all up. I'll
leave the team and command
structure up to you of course.
HARTMANN
Will you give us passage off this
rock, we have no means of escape.
BOY
Of course, but you will have to be
sedated for operational reasons.
Sorry I haven't time to explain.
EXT. ROCKET THRUST 1 - 7.6
LOCATION: Comet surface.
The teams rush to complete the repositioning of their
rockets, but EVERYWHEN determines that they will not be
able to remove the charges without setting them off.
RUDI decides its time to retreat before any charges
detonate.
RUDI
So how many have we set up?
JACINTA
Five, well four operating, the
fifth about to go live. Oh shit
did you feel that?
RUDI
Yes, a slight jolt,
JACINTA
Its the stresses in the rock, its
redistributing. That's not good.
RUDI
OK, start withdrawals of all
peripheral teams, we set up the
thrusters and then get the hell
out of here. I doubt we will be
able to disarm these charges.
EVERYWHEN
I have determined that there are
17 charges buried in one section
of the rock. It looks they were
planning to split it in to two
pieces. Unfortunately, they
didn't know about the fractures.
Its going to make many small
pieces. I can't detect any
connections back to surface.
RUDI
Could you wormhole them out?
EVERYWHEN
Sorry no, the edge effects would
cause significant unwanted energy
release. Its not advisable to
wormhole into high density matter,
causes some very undesirable
radiation, as you previously
discovered.
RUDI
Bugger, OK, forget the charges set
up the rockets and get everyone
out. BOY you there?
BOY
Yes Marm!
RUDI
Advise the Friedlander's to meet
at a central point and get them to
tie link their suits via
umbilical's, now, we are leaving.
BOY
Very good Marm, what about the
thrusters?
RUDI
We leave them running, we have
done our best, lets go home.
BOY
Roger. Colonel HAERTMAN can you
please assemble your troops. We
are going to tow you out to our
shielded temporary forward base,
then we will prepare for cryogenic
sleep, we don't have sufficient
consumable for the journey back in
our transports.
HARTMANN
Yah vol Colonel. Troops prepare
for space retreat.
RUDI
JACINTA get COSTA, ALEX and
SHARROW back to the base and get
through the wormhole ASAP. We are
done here.
EXT. CALVING CRASH -1 - 8
LOCATION: Astronomical observatory, Earth
Two astronomers observe parts of the comet entering
Earths atmosphere. They release it is going to strike in
the pacific and cause a massive Tsunami. They are taken
out by the Tsunami wave.
ASTRONOMER 1
It's calved, I saw some bright
flashes and then a maelstrom of
dust and gas.
ASTRONOMER 2
Shit, well if we are going to get
a hit we should see something very
soon. This is going to be bad,
space command has put out an all
stations warning for the central
pacific.
ASTRONOMER 1
Thats us, well we are on the peak.
ASTRONOMER 2
Yes but its a peak of a massive
volcano.
ASTRONOMER 1
Fireball overhead.
ASTRONOMER 2
Yes, well you have been a good
friend.
ASTRONOMER 1
What!
ASTRONOMER 2
You've been a good friend, now
lets just sit back and watch the
end of the world.
ASTRONOMER 1
I saw a flash below the horizon.
ASTRONOMER 2
The ground shock wave will hit
before the pressure wave.
ASTRONOMER 1
Come on we are thousands of feet
up a mountain.
ASTRONOMER 2
Do you really think thats going to
help.
ASTRONOMER 1
Can you hand me the binoculars I'm
going outside, I have to see this.
ASTRONOMER 2
I'm coming
STAIRS
ASTRONOMER 1
Jesus look at the sky
ASTRONOMER 2
Look at the horizon.
ASTRONOMER 1
I can see a black line, I think
its.. oh shit.
ASTRONOMER 2
Its the wave, I think we have a
few minutes. Yes its getting
larger
WIND WHISTLING,
DEEP RUMBLING.
ASTRONOMER 1
I think the p wave should hit
shortly.
ASTRONOMER 2
Its the mountain or the wave.
God's choice, we shall see.
DEEP RUMBLING, THEN
EXPLOSION STEAM
CRASHING.
INT. PANIC STATIONS - 1 - 9
LOCATION: Angel and May's office.
CHRISTOPHER visits SOPHIE, he needs some one to talk too.
He is very upset because he has seen the images of the
comet calving and then two parts impacting the Earth.
SOPHIE calls GANDER immediately who is shocked by the
news.
SOPHIE
What's the matter CHRISTOPHER, why
are you upset?
CHRISTOPHER
Oh SOPHIE I had to talk to
someone, the comet it hit the
Earth.
SOPHIE
What completely?
CHRISTOPHER
No it calved, split up, two pieces
hit the earth. The central
Pacific ocean and Siberia. It is
terrible, terrible, our beautiful
home planet Earth damaged.
SOPHIE
How badly?
CHRISTOPHER
Oh its bad for anyone around the
Pacific.
SOPHIE
Oh Jeez there are billions of
people around the Pacific, oh my
goodness.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes its is very terrible.
SOPHIE
Will anyone on earth survive.
CHRISTOPHER
I don't know, I think so but it
will be difficult for them.
SOPHIE
CHRISTOPHER wait just keep you
implants on hold I have to make a
call.
CHRISTOPHER
OK. Don't be long please.
SOPHIE
Look get a coffee and calm down,
compose yourself.
CHRISTOPHER
Thank you SOPHIE for listening.
SOPHIE
I'll be a minute.
SOPHIE walks away from CHRISTOPHER
SOPHIE
GANDER, we have a big issue, the
bloody comet calved and two pieces
impacted the earth, pacific and
Siberia. Its not terminal for
humanity but not good either.
GANDER
OH my God, OK get ALEX and
SHARROW, C&C half an hour. OK
Thanks. (Pause the intercom) All
senior staff report to C&C
immediately code red.
EXT. CIS ON HUNT- 1-10
LOCATION: Retrograde C&C
The team are discussing the very serious implications for
them. ALEX has heard from KRIS that she is alright, she
was on the moon when the event occurred. But she mentions
that the Friedlander's and the RCBS are tagged as the
possible terrorists who caused the Comet hit. A CIS
fleet is dispatched from the Moon and Earth orbit to hunt
down the person(s) responsible for the comet and
eliminate them. New London and other asteroid colonies
are an obvious target for investigation. They are itching
for revenge. RUDI and GANDER decide that withdrawal for
the RCBS is the only possible outcome.
The Friedlanders are also flagged as potential culprits
and the hanging jury well be unlikely to listen. RUDI
makes an offer to HARTMANN and states she is willing to
absorb his men as long as they assist in the withdrawal.
The regiments will be moved to the Pirate base
temporarily until other arrangements can be made. They
have a month to clear out. EVERYWHEN suggests that the
more permanent solution is to move the RCBS to an
inhabited planet beyond the reach of CIS or any Earth
fleet using a worm hole. GANDER decides to stay with a
few folk to give plausible deniability and to hold the
Retrograde Inn. SHARROW tells ALEX to go with the RCBS
and that she and SOPHIE will hold fort at the agency.
RUDI
Well that's done it, the shit will
really hit the fan now.
ALEX
We got a message from KRIS, she is
OK, on the moon for a vacation,
but she says they are assembling a
CIS fleet to pursue the 'space
terrorists in New London'. She
said that they mentioned the
Friedlander's as the perpetrators
of this atrocity. They will be
hunted down and brought to
justice.
RUDI
How the hell could they know that
the Friedlander's were involved?
GANDER
STANK of course, its a perfect
gambit he has set us up to be
annihilated by the CIS which
obviously serves his interests.
Think of all the fat supply
contracts he will get servicing
the fleet. He just gets a couple
of his shills to whisper in the
right ears. It's a good move, the
bastard.
RUDI
Well, I recommend we get out of
New London.
BOY
Where the hell, do we go?
RUDI
There are a couple of alternative
plans Major.
BOY
Tell me more.
RUDI
Well, plan A is to take what we
can fit into our ships and head to
the outer solar system. This is
not the most optimal plan.
BOY
I would concur, we could not carry
sufficient consumables or
personal, we would have to leave
some Cherries behind.
RUDI
Well plan B is we strip the RCBS
base out from under the inn, just
leave empty caverns, we take
everything pack it up and take it
to the base, that out pirate
friends have kindly donated. We
hunker down until the CIS get
bored and then eventually heads
back home.
GANDER
If we abandon the inn, isn't that
tantamount to an admission of
guilt.
RUDI
Well, we don't abandon it
completely. We get some volunteers
those that don't look military in
any way and we keep the bar going.
GANDER
Ah, I see, plausible deniability.
"What military base, but this is
just a bar, the old caverns
underneath oh we don't use them
apart for some storage etc.
RUDI
Yes you're getting the idea.
ALEX
I don't know GANDER, the CIS are
mean bastards, I'm not sure if
they will buy it. After all they
would have insider knowledge from
STANK.
BOY
Well, we will have about three
weeks before their lead picket
ships start to approach.
I don't know if we could strip the
base in that time.
RUDI
Well we don't have any choice do
we. I propose we contact HARTMANN
and offer his troops sanctuary as
well, he doesn't deserve what is
coming his way.
BOY
Between us we would have around
400 hundred troops and at least
ten ships. It will be a huge
squeeze but its better than just
running in open space, that would
just encourage a pursuit, we could
never win.
SHARROW
I will volunteer to stay ALEX you
go to the base, you look too much
like a soldier.
SOPHIE
I'm going to stay as well, leaving
GANDER here is to take the brunt
of their wrath is not right.
GANDER
Thank you girls I am very moved,
thank you.
BOY
So this plan C?
RUDI
Oh guys this is where it gets
interesting and very exciting.
This pirate base is just a staging
post for us. EVERYWHEN why don't
you explain?
EVERYWHEN
Yes of course. Well I was
thinking, you need to go somewhere
where they will never find you.
The best solution is that we open
up an wormhole as we did to get to
the comet, but this time we go a
little further. Say a reasonable
habitable world nearby, perhaps
twenty or thirty light years and
start emptying the Pirate base to
a redoubt. It will create an
interesting diversion for you all,
until the heat goes down.
It will aslo will give you a whole
planet to explore. My judgement
is that, this is exactly what you
primitive humans need, to rid you
of you solar system myopia, and
provide useful training and
educational opportunities. Of
course I can observe and gain more
data points for my matrices.
RUDI
Ahh, ha! I thought that would shut
you all up!
ALEX
Jesus RUDI that's a little
radical!
RUDI
Radical yes, but we are facing
unprecedented challenges, so we
have to make unprecedented moves
in return. We do not abandon our
beloved Retrograde, just retreat,
regroup and then return in
strength once the CIS slinks back
to its lair.
ALEX
Shit, well, yes, absolutely, count
me in, what an adventure! Now
SOPHIE look after SHAS otherwise I
will be really pissed off when I
get back.
SHARROW
Oh, yes we have an extensive
program of quilting lined up.
ALEX
Jesus, I'm getting all misty eyed!
END