S02-E07 BEACH HEAD
INT. RETROGRADE C&C
(BOY, RUDI, SHARROW)
BOY
Ma'am, this situation is more
complicated than it first appears.
If you see this end of the
Asteroid, this is where the free
miners have barricaded themselves
into the processing and head end
plant. There are several
entrances, but the photos show that
these have been surrounded by
temporary surface trenches with two
gun emplacements. We surmise that
this is to hold off any potential
ship or surface based attack. We
will have to make sure they don't
fire on DOILY when she arrives.
RUDI
Hmm, so how large is the Asteroid I
need a sense of scale.
BOY
Its 216 by 128 km in a bean shape,
the surface is very rough and will
be difficult to fight in. However I
suspect thats what we're going to
have to do. The Freidlanders are no
fools, Col. Hartmann is smart and
battle hardened. He has a slight
flaw of arrogance, thinking he is
always right. Thats what we are
going to exploit.
RUDI
Yes I agree the interior will be
suicide, (pause) unless we clear
out the troops first. So you
indicated that a way forward might
be a dummy surface campaign. This
enemy is very well equipped and
loves to fight. I think a frontal
assault is exactly what they need.
I think we should give it to them,
but we need to make it look like we
had to land slightly too far out.
We have to use mis-direction and
flanking tactics. To make this work
we will need more accurate 3D
mapping of the surface and that
means LIDAR.
I want to make sure our dust off
zone is exactly in the right
position to the meter. Out of
range of their small morters and
shielded from their rail guns. We
are going to have to use Quantum
Gyro's with dead reckoning.
BOY
Very good Ma'am, I'll get out our
drone fleet and convert to quantum
gyro's. Of course the key to a
successful mission, will be to cut
the power early. Force the
Freidlanders to switch to
conventional ballistics.
RUDI
Major, we are going to have to
sacrifice quite a few of our drone
swarms, so make sure all the old or
damaged ones are deployed first.
Let the Freidlanders waste their
ammunition on crapped out drones.
On the survey, I think we should
immediately dispatch DOILY in the
Fast Picket with a sensor suite,
she can stand off and relay
photogrammetry back to base. Good
information will be essential for
our success. So far we are not
formally engaged in a campaign so
the Freidlanders can't touch us or
any associated equipment until
contracts are signed and deposited.
DOILY will have a short window for
information gathering. I think we
may be signing documents tomorrow.
I also have another side mission to
place troops there immediately
before we sign. We need to do this
under extreme stealth. Is that
possible?
BOY
Yes of course almost anything is
possible Ma'am, given time. How
many troops do you want to emplace?
RUDI
Just a very small contingent Major.
Dropped near the exterior access
doors to the power reactors. Six
troops. The Area has the rather
romantic name of 'Kettonridge'.
BOY
Hmm, very sweet. I do think thats
possible Ma'am. We drop them off
in space from a passing ship,
probably DOILY on her survey run.
They gas jet down in stealth suits.
I think its definitely do able.
RUDI
Thank you major, make it so. Our
forward team is going to be
JACINTA, COSTAS, CHEN, ZED, ALEX
and SHARROW. I'll tee them up.
Get the picket ship ready.
BOY
Very good Ma'am. Which faction do
you think we will go with in the
end?
RUDI
I always like the underdogs and
that's the miners, I just want to
know who is the mysterious hidden
backer. It defiantly looks like
STANK is backing the owner's
faction. I heard that that Col.
Hartmann is down there right now
signing for them. I just don't want
to pick a fight with such a large
potential downside, if we really
don't know whom we are fighting
for.
BOY
Of course Ma'am. I will make sure
all data is fully integrated into
the holo-tank system. Should we
reconvene tomorrow?
RUDI
Could we make that this evening
Major please. (Pause) I think by
then, we should be have the survey
data loaded.
BLEEPING
RUDI
Yes hello RUDI speaking, how can I
help? SHARROW, have you received
some news?
SHARROW
Yes I have RUDI. Could we pop up
and see you?
RUDI
Yes of course, how about we meet in
the bar, I need to get some
breakfast.
SHARROW
Great idea, we'll join if you don't
mind.
RUDI
Of course no problem.
SHARROW
I think SOPHIE is on breakfast
suvery today, it's her shift.
RUDI
Good, very nice girl that SOPHIE,
she always knows the best items on
the menu.
SHARROW
She definitely is a smart one for
sure.
BLEEPING
INT. RETROGRADE MAIN BAR
(ALEX, BOY, GANDER, RUDI, SHARROW)
SHARROW
So RUDI, we received this short
message from KRIS. I think it will
give you what you are looking for.
RUDI
Excellent, thank you for acting as
interface. Hmmm, yes, it's as I
suspected. I quote "Confirmed third
party backer is the Consolidated
Mining Workers Union of Earth, no
other fund sources are identified.
Msg. End". (Pause) SHARROW that
means we are all going to be having
some intense action in the next few
days.
SHARROW
Well, ALEX will absolutely love
that.
ALEX
Talking about me again! I sure
will my good friends! Sounds like
action, and sound exciting! I need
to blow away my cobwebs. Mind you
my vacuum combat is a little rusty.
SHARROW
(Sigh) Like kicking a dirty old can
down the road!
RUDI
Well, I'm not going to throw you
two 'youngsters' straight into the
main melee. I do however have a
rather interesting, alternative
action for you to consider. JACINTA
and COSTAS have the details. They
are down in bay Alpha one. This is
a full fee payed assignment for all
the participants. If we are
successful there will be a
considerable bonus for anyone who
signs up. The funds will keep your
agency running for a few months.
So in anticipation of you saying
yes to this I arranged for you to
see them in about an hour. I hope
that was not too presumptuous, we
need to move almost immediately on
this. Actually for the purposes of
deception we need to move before we
sign the contract?
ALEX
Hmmm, thats moving fast. Well I
accept, but I need to check with
'the other half'. (Pause) So what
do you think SHAS, we need to get
out and about more. See some of
the scenery, get out of that stuffy
office.
SHARROW
Well its yes from me, but we also
need to ask SOPHIE and ZED first,
they are part of the team now.
RUDI
Actually you don't. As RCBS
commissioned members they are both
duty bound to be part of this.
It's what they get paid for. I was
thinking ZED would be required on
the forward team with yourselves.
I'm going to hold SOPHIE back in
C&C for this action. I'll need her
for liaison and radio comms as
Colonel WILLIAMSON is going out to
the action.
SHARROW
Oh, he is a little 'long in the
tooth' for field action RUDI?
RUDI
Oh, you would be surprised!
SHARROW
I didn't think that ZED was in the
regiment.
RUDI
Oh, yes, he has been back in for
two weeks now. I had a chat after
the excellent and successful bat
stag operation. Forgave all his
past misbehaviour. Put it down to
the excitement of youth. I also
think I might have over reacted in
the heat of the moment. I do think
he has settled a lot since joining
your team, by the way. I think
having more independence and a
place away from the inn was what he
needed.
SHARROW
Well, he is a good lad but does
have some annoying tendencies.
However he has helped a lot with
the technology at the agency. Also
he has become an integral part of
our team. (Pause) So Ms ANGEL what
do you think? Time for some
action?
ALEX
Absolutely, thats the spirit SHAS.
INT. RETROGRADE C&C
(BOY, GANDER, RUDI)
BOY
Very good Ma'am, I think this is a
sound plan.
RUDI
I will signal our new clients that
we accept there contract. This
will obviously be picked up by
STANK's spies and the Freidlanders.
BOY
The forward team is inserted Ma'am.
They are waiting on the surface.
RUDI
Very good Major. Do they have
enough oxygen? They be in hiding
for quite some time?
BOY
Yes Ma'am they have extra tanks,
they'll be fine. JACINTA is a
tough one.
RUDI
We need to immediately assume
combat conditions for the inn. I
will contact GANDER.
BOY
Very good Ma'am. I would also like
to request forward command for the
direct attack squad?
RUDI
Well, of course Major, I do
understand that you need the
occasional bit of excitement. Just
don't get yourself wounded. You're
far too valuable to this whole
operation. Besides who would get
the biscuits if you not here?
BOY
Thank you Ma'am. Yes it's been a
while, I haven't had the chance to
blow off some steam. I do need to
sharpen the command sword
occasionally.
RUDI
What are we going to call our major
diversion Major? I'm out of
idea's.
BOY
Hmmm, how about the hooligan's
Ma'am. They are loud and obnoxious
and generally make a mess!
RUDI
Very good Major, I like it. Well
you go and get your bunch of
hooligans and get ready to make a
loud noise. Get both ships out and
announce everything with TRACON.
We want the opposition to know we
are on the way.
BOY
Yes Ma'am! It will be a pleasure.
RUDI
Oh, and Major.
BOY
Yes ma'am?
RUDI
Make sure you do excessive
unnecessary manoeuvring, tell DOLIY
to blow off some gas, and generally
look like a novice. Also make sure
there are slightly too many course
corrections. I'm sure Colonel
Hartmann will be laughing under his
breath and getting ready for a good
kill. That Germanic 'der
Waschlappen' is nothing if not
predictable.
BOY
Of course Ma'am, it will be a
splash, crash and dash show. When
we land and make the dummy
bridgehead, they'll know all about
it. DOILY will love all the game
playing with her second favourite
ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'.
It will test her manoeuvring
skills. I also have quite a lot of
out of date ammunition to blow off.
CALVINS is going to love this. Lots
of chances for shouting, and
running around shooting at stuff.
It will boost moral.
RUDI
Well just make it as splashy as
possible and tie up the enemy. We
know they love to shoot to. They
have a reputation for being a
trigger happy bunch. The most
critical thing is we must make them
pull any troops they have out of
the interior tunnels, particularly
the main decline. Get them all
excited, like a swarm of bees.
(Pause) I think we should set up
lots of lights off the side and fix
up a load of fake radio traffic.
I'll get on the a causal link to
Jacinta tell her that the operation
is on.
BOY
Ma'am. I was thinking we could
break out the auto pogo sticks and
use them to confound the enemy.
They are very old fashioned but the
troops love them and they confuse
the hell out of the gunners. It
drives them crazy all the bouncing
around, very difficult to find a
target and wastes a lot of ammo.
RUDI
Oh, very good Major I like it.
Well, I think its time to head up
to the bar and make a hell of a
noise so their spies can report
back.
BOY
Might I suggest the traditional
toast Ma'am and some singing!
RUDI
Great idea Major, I think I will
join you, I'll get the pipes in.
I just get GANDER warmed up. Do we
know any Germain war songs? Lets
rub them up the wrong way!
BLEEPING
GANDER
Hello, hello, Oh RUDI, how is the
campaign planning going?
RUDI
Very good GANDER, we are just about
ready to start the plan as
discussed. We are calling the
troops to the bar in half an hour.
Can you make sure you let the
opposition spies in.
GANDER
Of course, just as we discussed.
I'll warn GHOST that you lot are on
your way. I'll be behind the bar
too, I want to see this!
RUDI
OK, pour one for me GANDER. It's
time for a slug of 'Irish honey'!
GANDER
Very good. I look forward to
joining you. (Pause) I wonder how
our two detectives are holding out
on the surface, hopefully not
filling puke bags.
LAUGHTER
RUDI
GANDER, you're just so cruel!
LAUGHTER
EXT. SURFACE OF URSULA NEAR REACTOR CAVERN
(ALEX, CHEN, JACINTA, SHARROW)
ALEX
SHARROW come here, yes nearer the
tank. The umbilical is a little
short. Look plug it in and then
turn, like this!
SHARROW
Oh ahh, it's a real pain using only
visual and hard wired links to
communicate. I feel like I should
turn a handle on something like
those old field telephones. (Pause)
How are you making out, it's very
gloomy out here, apart from the
occasional manoeuvring thruster.
ALEX
I must say the camouflage 'super
black' on the suits is really
effective, especially when you
throw some rock dust on as well.
Blends right in. I can only just
about see JACINTA and thats because
I know where to look. (Pause) I
think Im going to crack one of
those coffee bulbs. I really need a
hit. Seems like we've been here
sitting on our arses, forever.
SHARROW
Do you think we should go over to
JACINTA and get a sit-rep.
ALEX
Might be an idea. Find out what the
rest of this dog and pony show is
up to.
SHARROW
OK I'm right behind you. Oh! I
think JACINTA is signalling anyway.
SOUNDS OF
EXERTION IN A
SUIT
JACINTA
Hi, guys, looking pukka! Just
letting you know I got the signal
on the a-causal link. We are green
to go. I'm going to wait fifteen
mins then start making our way to
the exterior locks.
We will then stand off until they
make the big splashy landing and
start blowing off some steam. That
theoretically will distract the
troops and suck them towards the
action at the head end.
SHARROW
What are they going to do to make a
noise?
JACINTA
Everything, plus fireworks. Come
in guns blazing with lots of
tracers and rockets look like they
crash land. That sort of thing.
Hell I wish I was watching. Its
going to be good. They will mainly
stay out of close range of course.
Apparently DOILY said they had a
dummy charge rigged to look like
one of the manoeuvring thrusters
takes a hit. That's to make the
rather distant forced crash land
seem real!
ALEX
(Chuckles) I like it. Never play
straight, when you throw a curve
ball. They will not be able to
resist. The frontal assault seems
like a very temping obvious target
for troops who need a win.
JACINTA
Exactly, it will draw all the
troops away from the power node,
which is why we have waited out
here so long. The assault happened
over an hour ago. I'm going to get
closer to our target. You just
hang back a little. Let's not
bunch together in case they wake
up. We don't want to make an easy
target.
SHARROW
Roger, that.
ALEX
How are you guys going? I have
just checked the pressure on the
super tank, looks like we are about
fifty percent. Can I do a draw
down, I'm getting a little low?
JACINTA
Of course thats what its for. Look
we are planning to start in about
fifteen minutes. When I start to
move, stay behind me, nice and
slow, hug the terrain. It would be
a real shame if we are spotted.
ALEX
Roger that.
JACINTA
Guys, I need to talk to CHEN. You
fill up with oxygen, I'll meet you
in five.
ALEX
OK.
CRAWLING AND
EXERTION SOUNDS
JACINTA
CHEN let me plug in. (Pause) OK,
how are you going?
CHEN
Very good Sargent, I'm just
readying the shaped charges and the
magnetics for the interior doors.
JACINTA
How are you for oxygen?
CHEN
I'm good, I filled up ten minutes
ago.
JACINTA
Great! So are you sure you know how
to hit the SCRAM on the LFTR?
(Lifter).
CHEN
Oh, Sargent, we're not scramming
the reactor. Thats far to
dramatic. We are just going to
turn it right down to maintenance
level. On FLIBE Energy units, they
have a maintenance mode. Old
fashioned, but safe. How long will
we need to keep it at that level?
JACINTA
Well, I recon about half a day,
max, depends if we can neutralise
the rats nest up at the owner's
end. (Pause) Look it's not going to
be radioactive is it?
CHEN
No, of course not. The reactor
chamber is twenty meters down in
solid rock. This is just the
control room. (Pause) My main issue
is tripping the breakers, and
disabling them. We will have to
switch the generators over to dummy
loads as if stay in maintenance
mode and we want to fire them up
quickly after the battle.
JACINTA
RUDI, dropped a message to the
miner faction telling them that we
have formally signed on their
behalf. However she deliberately
kept them in the dark. I think she
just told them to prepare for the
unexpected. We think they may have
spies in their ranks. (Pause) There
is some sort of barricade down at
the portal end which is holding off
a small number of Freidlander
troops. We need to deal with those
troops after we have disabled the
reactors. Are you good for a
firefight?
CHEN
Of course I'm in the RCBS as active
frontline. I'm going to enjoy
this. I have never played with a
MTR before.
JACINTA
Yeah well, don't over cook it. I
don't want to have a radioactive
day.
CHEN
No chance of that, these babies are
intrinsically safe.
JACINTA
Sure!
INT. URSULA ASTEROID OWNERS OFFICES
(BOY, CALVIN, DOILY, FISCHER, GHOST, HARTMANN, WEBER)
WEBER
I tell you Colonel, there is
something very strange going on. I
have heard rumours about this RCBS
mob, they are always devious. I
don't think that they would attack
so blatantly.
HARTMANN
Yah, WEBER, but you always say
this, your paranoia is legendary.
WEBER
Is that not a good trait in
warfare?
HARTMANN
Yes, but you take it too far. We
managed to hit one of their ships,
we saw it come down. They had no
choice. We counted a mobile fort,
and front-line battle guns. They
are readying for a full frontal
assault. I'm one hundred percent
certain. Our spies informed us of
all their equipment lists. Its
obviously a full ground action.
WEBER
Yes, well, I see that. Doesn't all
this seem too obvious to you.
HARTMANN
No, WEBER you are always saying
this. You are over thinking this.
Das ist mir furzegal! (Pause) Now
I have wasted too much time
listening to your conspiracy
theories. Go, immediately, we have
a battle to win.
WEBER
Well, I'm trying to tell you how to
win it. Du bist ein volltrottel,
it's my troops that are doing your
fighting. We are still recovering
from the big f** up on Miranda. I
can see this going the same way.
Have you secured our power supply
for instance. You only have a
couple of troops down there. If we
loose the power its game over.
HARTMANN
WEBER, if you don't get out on to
the lines immediately and command
the troops, I will court martial
you for in subornation.
Is that clear? We have the two big
MTRs in the rock, thats 500 Meg of
power. They are locked down solid.
Power will not go down at all, zero
chance of that. Let the command do
the thinking whilst you concentrate
on the soldiering. That's why you
are payed the big bucks. Good day
sir.
WEBER
Well, thats, (Pause) Arschkeks,
verfluchter!
HARTMANN
If you say another word I will
report you for insubordination.
Now get out.
DOOR OPENS
FISCHER
Sir!
HARTMANN
Sargent ready the troops on the
surface. Formation Alpha one
proceed forward, we'll cut these
children to pieces.
FISCHER
Ya vol Colonel, do you want the
auto mortars activated?
HARTMANN
Yes I think that would be
advisable. What is the enemy ETA?
FISCHER
About ten minutes Sir. Although
they have a very unpredictable
trajectory, they are burning gas
like its gone out of fashion. It
looks like they are going to land
some way from their first dust off.
HARTMANN
It's that hit we got on their
second troop carrier. OK Sargent,
fire the star bursters. Lets shake
them in the can. That will make
their troops nervous !
FISCHER
Ya val! Colonel. (Bleep of
communications) KEPLER please
active the star bursters and star
plan Alpha 1. (Bleep of
communications)
SHOOTING OF
HOWITZAS AND
MORTERS
INT. SHIP GHOST AND LATITUDE
(BOY, CALVIN, DOILY, GHOST)
GHOST
They've starting the star bursters,
I'm going to kick us around to
avoid them.
DOILY
Roger. GHOST make those reactions
sluggish, we need to look damaged.
CLICK AND BLEEP
DOILY
Folks, we are entering our holiday
destination! Expect sunny beaches,
palm trees and lots of ice cold
cocktails around the pool! (Pause)
Nada! I trust you are all suited
and booted. Five minutes out from
dust off. Grab a hold its going to
be rough!
BOY
Troops ready yourselves, remember
everyone has a job, focus on that
and get lively we are under fire.
CALVIN
Troops listen up, break out the
hats and hooters. This is going to
be one hell of a noisy party.
DOILY
Dust off ladies.
VIOLENT
MANOUVERING
SOUNDS THRUSTS
STEAM HISSING.
THEN LANDING
THUMP
BOY
OK, Go, Go, Go. Get that fake
encampment set up.
CALVIN
Look lively you horrible slackers,
move it. Get those auto howitzas
going. Come on, look lively don't
present a fixed target.
MERRYWEATHER get your arse in gear.
BOY
DOILY we are all off then boat, you
are clear to move to park at the
miners end. Go and relieve GHOST if
there are owners troops down at
that end, shoot them up good. Show
who's side we are on. Get the ship
tucked right in nice and cosy.
(Pause) Soldier, watch out, look
lively to your left.
EXPLOSION
BOY
CALVIN, move them to the left, they
are targeting the right hand side.
(Laughing) Look at that, DOILY I
wish you could see this, its a
sight for sore eyes, old CALVIN is
like a cat on a hot tin roof. This
deployment is so ridiculous its
like watching a bunch of girl
guides on a windy day run around
waving there hands. (Laughter)
DOILY BRA call?
DOILY
Roger! On my way to the owners end.
BRA, 1570, 2100, altitude 3200!
BOY
Good, you should be above the
horizon. Contact GHOST and find
out status. Confirm we can park
outside their lock.
CALVIN
Troops get your pogos ready. Wait
until they loose power. Get those
rocket flares up solder! We need
to dazzle their gunners. Come on,
come on, your flapping around like
girl guides on a windy day!
BOY
General channel. CALVIN get them to
fan out to either side once the
camp is up. Tell them to dig in
and pick at the enemy. Stay icy the
Friedlanders have good troops.
Stay fluid, don't get pinned down.
Shoot and move. This will be my
last communication until we can
disable their comms jammer. God
speed Cherries, make them
Freidlanders uncomfortable. Stay
well away from our squawkers, thats
where their morters will land.
EXT. SURFACE OF URSULA NEAR REACTORS
(ALEX, CHEN, COSTAS, JACINTA, SHARROW, ZED)
CHEN
Ok Sargent, I have instituted the
micro drill, its got to get through
a few centimetres of hardened
steel. I'm pulsing the laser.
JACINTA
How is the power holding up.
CHEN
Well, I hope we have enough juice,
I double checked the calculations,
but this steel is tough.
ZED
JACINTA I'm seeing increased
chatter on their comms channels.
Also some commanded troop
redeployments towards the owners
end. I think its the reaction to a
kicking by our 'Hooligans'.
JACINTA
Great that's exactly what we
wanted. ALEX and SHARROW are you
ready for entry code crack?
ALEX
Yes I have the needle probes ready
and SHAS has the controls.
JACINTA
COSTAS are you ready on the sleepy
gas.
COSTAS
Oh, sir, yes indeed, those techs
are going to have sweet dreams
interrupted by a rude awakening. I
have the tie wraps ready!
JACINTA
I shouldn't feel sorry for them,
but this gas gives a hell of a head
ache. (Pause) Troops don't forget
to keep your suit sealed until we
purge the air.
CHEN
OK I'm getting close to
breakthrough. I'm dialling the
power right down to low.
Breakthrough achieved. I can feel
some gas escape. Inserting the
probes and sealing the bladders.
(Pause) Gas is going in. It will
take about five minutes Sir.
JACINTA
Good, time for the last coffee bulb
I think. Everyone ready?
ALEX
Copacetic!
SHARROW
I need a pee.
ALEX
Well I think you might have to use
your in suit facilities. (Laughter)
CHEN
OK, all the gas is in. I'm just
going to put in the spy cameras.
(Pause) OK, the last one is down.
They are all on the floor.
JACINTA
CHEN the reactors are not going to
run out of control are they?
CHEN
No of course not, they run almost
completely automatically. Most of
the techs just go around and do
small maintenance. Polish the
brass, that sort of thing.
JACINTA
Hmm, thats what you techs always
say, just before a massive
disaster. I guess we will have to
wing it on this one.
CHEN
Wing, it! I'm am a scientists as is
my colleague private ZAHKAR. We
are not fortune teller, or sellers
of snake oil. There will be no
'winging' in my team, thank you!
JACINTA
ZAHKAR? (Pause) Oh you mean ZED!
Well, OK Doc and 'ZAHKAR', you're
the only mad scientist around these
parts. I'll leave all that science
stuff in your more than capable
hands.
CHEN
I am not inspired by you confidence
in the science team. (sarcastic)
JACINTA
Don't worry doc I'm like this with
all scientists. Its not personal!
Ok then lets get cracking,
literally! ALEX and SHAS off you
go start breaking the door codes.
ALEX
Needle probes are on the terminals,
SHAS, what does the unit say.
SHARROW
Its running. Counting down. (Pause)
Good, its now showing green. We are
in!
JACINTA
I'm going to slowly do a manual
open on the outer door. COSTAS get
in and check the view port window.
The rest of you follow. SHAS can
you let me know when the outer door
is closed and sealed.
COSTAS
I see three bodies, one in
Freidlanders uniform.
SHARROW
Outer door closed and seal is
locked.
JACINTA
OK, team look sharp. Remember don't
open your suits until I give the
all clear. COSTAS you deal with the
bodies. I'll purge the air. ALEX
and SHARROW you block the camera's.
CHEN you kill any telemetry. ZED
you secure the inner door to the
mine. We can then take our time
spooling down the generator sets.
OK, go!
END