- INT. FLAGSHIP COMMAND - PASSING BEYOND MOON WEST
- (00:00 - Lacus Serenitatis/Karl Jenkins)
- Flagship parallels starship Pickel.
- Jeff quiet in a halo, adjusts his vidlink by modes for a TV image from Earth: corrects pixel-interleaving, frame-rates, sync, compression-coefficients, color-sync, digital codes …
CADET
- (to Gary)
- What were the co-encodes to command the Alien gang-navigation?
GARY
- (to Cadet)
- Communications, are encrypted by irreducible codes, fully decodable. Override protection, is afforded by irresolvable codes, e.g., reducible exponents and square components not fully decodable, though statistical methods help:- Both sides co-encode the same command set,- The receiver compares signals with the possibles only the manufacturer can specify….
CADET
- Okay,-- I'm studying statistical methods with Gwen. Second question: How do solitons retroflect through a moon or planet? They should pass out the other side: symmetrically.
GARY
- (conciliatory)
- There's a lot we don't know about photons and wavicles: especially at quantum and subunit wavelengths: If a planet-sphere focuses transversal wavicles to a neutral point on its far surface, --if it can do so,-- we're guessing maybe it reflects at that surface…. We know these Alien U-F-O's work somehow; and we can't throw-out good evidences, for our theories; nor throw-out theories, for evidences…. For example:--
- (tutors)
- Our, science, cannot distinguish between gamma rays generated by the decay of positron-electron pairs, from gamma rays that passed-through each other,-- yet, by conservation-of-information, there must be some, difference: an over-code imposed or under the gamma-wavicle-envelope:-- Maybe this Alien technology knows that code well-enough to select and enhance reflectivity. But as I say, we're guessing deep on this … Our theories must get beyond the merely spectral, and find and understand the aether substance.
CADET
- Okay,- Third question: How did the soliton drive create global gales?- Momentum-wave refraction in the atmosphere should be less than at the surface of the Earth,-- or even at the surface of the oceans.
GARY
- Depends on the wavelength: Did your school-chemistry teacher give you the Density Test: where the plot of Density versus Index-of-refraction spells out the word, "No"?
CADET
- No,- But I heard, about that … But, What makes the atmosphere refract solitons? Better impedance-matching … or, Does the ground-air interface couple momentum…?!
GARY
- (erudite)
- Alien, U-F-O, technology, equals, science,-- And, science, equals, mathematics: Only imagination flies faster but must remain substantial-to science only as it's based-upon, corroborates, is conducive-to, and remains relative-to, science: These must fly together, else you have neither, at any speed of light.
- Pickel CMDR Penny arrives at the top of the Escalator;-- Cadet ups and walks to Mike's office …
GARY
- (as-if snubbed, to Jeff)
- You have a malfunctioning display…?
- Vidlink displays have an acceptable-resolution image …
JEFF
- (into mouthpiece)
- Okay, It looks better … Now, what?
[TECH-AIDE] (JEFF-HALO)
- As far as we got: Pixel-coordinates are bit-reversed, x-y-interleaved and exor'ed, to infinite precision…
PENNY
- (inserts)
- Hello…!?
GARY
- (nonchalant to Penny)
- Yes?-- I suppose you may come in: It's relaxed up here momentarily.
PENNY
- (still formal)
- I'm Commander Penny of starship Pickel.
GARY
- (sits-up, louder)
- Oh-- Yes!-- Come, right in!--
- (looks for Mike)
- CINC-SPAC is somewheres about…!
- Jaime, Others, turn-at-ease to look at Penny …
CADET
- (at office door)
- Sir, Commander Penny, from starship Pickel, is here.
MIKE
- (rises)
- Bring her in.
CADET
- (to Penny, motions)
- Come…!
- Gwen, Peter, Daniel, arrive, in similar space-formalwear but as boarding-party guests;--
- Jaime jumps-up, and trots to greet them--
JAIME
- Out of the desert frying pan, And into the Alien line of fire!--
- (halts: challenges Gwen)
- You guys are not still critical!?
GWEN
- (calmly)
- I'm all right.
JAIME
- (elated hug)
- Good to see you, girl!-- We read about you on Pickel's transponder e-mail … Hi, Guys!
- (hugs each)
CADET
- (ecstatic)
- Professor Gwen!- Welcome to outer-space!
MIKE
- (coming out enthusiastic)
- Gwen! Peter, Daniel:-- We're relieved!-- We chased your Alien-doubles halfway across the galaxy,- Then raced-back to rescue Earth …
- (welcome-hands each)
- It's good to see you-all alive and…
- (realizes the horror)
- Well… You, were on Pickel?-- Who…?-
- (looks to Penny also)
- Pickel's heroics bore a rather amateurish signature:-- Admittedly it surprised the Aliens too … Who, ordered that line-of-fire maneuver?
GWEN
- (a beat)
- Commander Penny ordered aid given to CeeBird.
PENNY
- (explains)
- CeeBird was requesting assistance, and we were essentially nearest …
DANIEL
- Peter suggested maximizing laser-sweep-peening.
PENNY
- We overrode computation-loading factors: We believed we had the most experience …
PETER
- Gwen said we might do better nearer the line of fire.
PENNY
- I ordered--
- (remissively)
- I said, "Do it…!"
MIKE
- (nods shy of smiling)
- Commander Penny, I must formally reprimand you:-- You put your superiors in the awkward position of having to order assistance to your possible harm …
- (as an order)
- Never, again,---- Commander!
PENNY
- (subordinate)
- Yes, sir!
MIKE
- I'm glad we did not need your damage-telemetry!
PENNY
- (agrees subordinate)
- Yes! Sir!
- Vidlinks display the [USA PRESIDENTIAL SEAL] in color:
JEFF
- (announces)
- Mike,-- E-T-A communication in 46-hesits: The President will speak to you directly. We have vidlink fully H-D-T-V-compatible:- color sync'ed pretty good;-- Had to bit-reverse, x-y-interleave and exor, the pixel-index: Similar to television except the coding…. You've got vox-pause and fast-remind.
- INT. OVAL OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - WORK MIDMORNING
- Smarmy Oxfordian lawyer PRESIDENT, sits banging a running-shoe on the broken end of the oval desk; The shoe's sound, RUNNER HEAVY-BREATHING, pervades; SECRETARY, ASSISTANT, in electronic earpieces, watch; WWDC-TV CREW finishes routing floor cables to 2 cameras on the President, who will speak by prepared-flowchart; An E-VOICE-CLOCK is counting-down …
PRESIDENT
- (3 bangs synchronously)
- Kill! Kill! Kill!
- Stops,-- RUNNER BREATHING CEASES;--
PRESIDENT
- (glares over shoes)
- "Fricken snacken wrecken snork!"-
- (irked)
- What's wrong with these shoes?!
SECRETARY
- Those are your ReeBoxer Pan-Terrans your spouse gave you for spring-cleaning; We sent your Nukee Grunts to the factory: They promised they could re-cover them: You recall the yellow paint: We couldn't save your running-shorts … And the Department of Transportation has promised to degrease the new Bott's-Dots on Pennsylvania Avenue.
- President bangs shoe-- RUNNER BREATHING 1 SEC. --glowers.
ASSISTANT
- We vidlink net-sync. in 25-hesits.
PRESIDENT
- (tosses shoe, rolls-in)
- My presidential signature pens…!?
SECRETARY
- You won't need them till the Chinese arrive. And the emergency courier van was commandeered this morning during U-F-O Media reports. The pen company president promised he'll personally rush-deliver a box by midmorning….
- (checks watch, softer)
- Your visiting hometown kindergarten class thought it was funny to chew them all … Not sure who told them.
ASSISTANT
- (directs)
- Sir, Remember: The U-F-O mothership is parked beyond the moon, half-a-million kilometers away: When you listen to their replies, they are speaking in a 2-hesit loop-delay:--
- (confides)
- They'll be answering old questions.
PRESIDENT
- (grins broadly)
- How politically astute…!
- KLAXON INTERRUPTS TWICE--
- All dive to crouching behind desks and armchairs …
[AUTOSECURITY] (PA)
- * INTRUDER * ALERT *
- Background [REVELERS] shouting and horning (1KHz High-"C" octave below the starship-heard neutrino buzz)--
[REVELERS] (PA)
- (HORN-"C" … shout)
- The trumpet of the angel!
- (HORN-"C" … shout)
- The horn of Revelation!
- (HORN-"C" … shout)
- The trumpet of the angel!
- (HORN-"C" … shout)
- The horn of Armageddon!
- (da capo diminishing away)
SECRETARY
- (resitting, exasperates)
- Three days, that's been going-on!
- Front-gate Security [SERGEANT SMILLISH] comes on--
[SMILLISH] (PA)
- Front Gate Security, Sergeant Smillish. We have an older man attempting to rush our gates;-- Claims to be the President of Pennsylvania, and then he says, "Oink-oink" … Very strange, Sir.
SECRETARY
- (leans to President)
- Pen-cil Ven-ue Ink, Inc-orporated: The signature pens.
ASSISTANT
- (a beat, urges)
- Sir: You're on, in 5-hesits.
- The Voice-Clock is louder the last 5 hesits (WWDC-TV CAMERAS CAPTURE THIS SCENE for Flagship vidlink):
VOICE-CLOCK (CONCURRENT)
- (countdown per 2.2 sec.)
- 5-hesits …
- 4-hesits …
- 3-hesits …
- 2-hesits …
PRESIDENT
- (reseated: easy-going)
- Hold him tight, Sergeant:
- (straightens coat, tie)
- We'll answer him next.
- (gathers-rectifies notes)
[SMILLISH] (PA)
- Thank you, sir;-- Security, out.
- PA OFF: No background.
SECRETARY
- (sighs, relieves)
- Such a humanitarian!
VOICE-CLOCK
- (last count with "s")
- 1-hesits.
- President looks-hurt at clock.
SECRETARY (OC)
- (smarts, apology)
- Pre-Cambridgean period, Sir.
PRESIDENT (CONCURRENT)
- (low to Secretary)
- Get an Aide out there for Smillish.
ASSISTANT
- (TV-intro)
- Ladies and Gentlemen: Your President, Head of the United States of America….
- Secretary calls on her cellphone …
PRESIDENT
- (to TV camera)
- Good morning, my fellow -audited- taxpayers.
SECRETARY
- (feints faint: squeaks)
- American, taxpayers: American!
PRESIDENT
- (to TV camera)
- I am taking liberties as your Commander-…
- CUT TO:
- INT. FLAGSHIP COMMAND - FAR BEYOND MOON (CO-CONTINUOUS)
- (00:00 - Mare Vaporum/Karl Jenkins)
- [EDIT-BLIPPING on vidlink]
- At 500,000Km, moon west and Earth inching, Mike sitting, CMDR Penny, Gwen, Peter, Daniel, standing; All await the interview with the President: [LOOPED]
- Vidlink TV-images display the [USA PRESIDENTIAL SEAL] …
JEFF
- (announces)
- E-T-A 3-hesits … You have a 5-hesit broadcast-delay: 2-hesit live-loop.
[ASSISTANT (VO)]
- (TV-intro over Seal)
- "Ladies and Gentlemen: Your President, Head of the United States of America."
- [Presidential Seal dissolves to Broadcast, Edited]:
[PRESIDENT]
- Good morning, my fellow
- (BLIP "audited")
[PRESIDENT (VO DUB)]
- -American-
- (BLIP DONE)
[PRESIDENT]
- tax-payers.
- (pauses)
- I am taking liberties as your Commander-IN-Chief, to bring you, live, our first meeting with space-aliens…. Our chief engineers have established a network-live-T-V-type link with the Alien mothership … Space-Com surveillance has located it beyond the moon.
- (pauses)
- I remind you that until this moment we have not known what space-aliens looked-like: Be prepared to comfort your littlest children.
- Jaime and John share silent lingering disbelief …
[PRESIDENT]
- We do know they can communicate in simple English; and, I want you to be with me live for this momentous first-contact.
- (a beat)
- We have several
- (BLIP "cunning")
[PRESIDENT (VO DUB)]
- -shrewd-
- (BLIP DONE)
[PRESIDENT]
- linguists ready on our supernet web-connection to assist us. We hope this first meeting will not preclude further contacts with space-aliens. Therefor I ask your patient acceptance of U.S. Policy protocols:-- If necessary, our engineers can break the link….
- (to Assistant)
- Chief: If we are ready …
[ASSISTANT (OC)]
- (to engineer)
- Engineer: Close the connection.
- (a beat, to President)
- We have linkup: You may begin, sir.
- TV [ZOOMS TO LIVE] newer image covering old …
- [Replies cross 1.7 sec. delay to Earth, 3.5 sec. total: Vidlink pauses for loud locals, then resumes normal play after fast-catch-up filling silent segments, triple-speed paralleling; Alternates images with replay tail-reminders; VOICE-OPTIMALLY-PLACED MULTIPLE-CAMERAS with auto-select.]
[PRESIDENT]
- Hel-lo;-- Greetings, from Earth!
- VIDEO PAUSES, for.
MIKE
- (loud: first try)
- Hello, sir: Good morning to you.
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- I understand we must wait two-hesits for your reply.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- No worse than early Internet video sessions.
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (grins)
- I can do a lot of talking in two-hesits….
- INT. OVAL OFFICE - (CO-CONTINUOUS)
- [No edit-blipping; no fast-remind technology]
- [Grand-Admiral Mike] talks from the large-screen display of his Flagship Command-- picking-up relayed mid-sentence: [missing the President's first reply about Mike's visage similarity and English fluency]
[MIKE]
- … Internet video sessions.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
PRESIDENT
- (to TV camera)
- Our world-wide-web video-stream! Have your people been to Earth, before?
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- Quite, sir: And you speak immaculate Cambridgean, yourself.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
PRESIDENT
- (puzzled)
- We should arrange for an ambassador: It could be an enlightening experience for us.
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- Yes: I'm a full professor in astrophysics at the U, in California.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
PRESIDENT
- (exasperates)
- You've infiltrated our national security research facilities!?
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- That should not be necessary: The Internet will do.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
PRESIDENT
- (flusters-down papers)
- I should say, not! What's going on here?! Who are, you people?!
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- (delayed calm)
- We are already enlightened, thank you sir.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
ASSISTANT (OC)
- (detects)
- Calm down, sir: Remember your delay loop!
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- No, sir:
- (reassures)
- We are, your people: We are ordinary professors and students at the U; We commandeered the U-F-O from Area 51 while operating under hot-pursuit guidelines for cosmic abductions…
- INT. FLAGSHIP COMMAND - (CO-CONTINUOUS)
- [EDIT-BLIPPING on vidlink]
- Picking-up ahead: [skipped UFO rescue and Alien-chase]
- VIDEO PAUSED.
MIKE
- (to forward)
- … attack Earth, we caught them, and defeated them in space battle.
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- …ready enlightened, thank you sir.
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[ASSISTANT (OC)]
- (detects)
- Calm down, sir: Remember your delay loop!
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- … guidelines for cosmic abductions…
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (infuriated)
- Our, people!?--
- (BLIP)
(BLIP)
(BLIP)
- You've destroyed a thousand-- trillion-- dollars-- of Earth resources, --International assets--
- (BLIP)
(BLIP)
- And you call yourselves,-- Americans!?-- We don't have money denominations that big!!
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- Yes, sir: And we're ready to talk with you, about America.
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- … defeated them in space battle.
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (restraining tears)
- Your spacewars comets have destroyed, Mount Cheyenne, and pushed the entire community of Kennebunkport Maine, into the ocean;-- unleashing global mega-storms: The N-O-A-A is predicting profoundly disturbed global weather patterns, persisting beyond the next election…!
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- Sir: We have discovered technologies that didn't come from hard-partying, nor inhaling a smoky stench; and we'd rather make progress with what we've accomplished here.
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- …talk with you, about America….
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (clearing)
- You have but a few tricks, our scientists can learn: when we get hold of the renegade U-F-O.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- Actually, sir: We have a fleet of forty starships and spaceships-- all with nuclear authority-- and many more available: And, I might suggest, as my first, sir: your scientists be allowed those additional starships. Meanwhile, we will return Pickel to Area 51-- your U-F-O, sir, slightly repaired at the factory: And you can restart your Army-agenda to destroy it: to learn what you want from this technology.
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- … discovered technologies that …
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (smirks)
- You want patent rights, salvage rights-- mineral rights-- military passages: You think you're bigger than the Koresh of Waco!?
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- (formidably)
- This technology has been here for millions of years; Earth science in only recent decades has come close: In the early '70's we had miniature nuclear engines of 500-tons thrust, running on …
- INT. OVAL OFFICE - (CO-CONTINUOUS)
- [No edit-blipping; no fast-remind]
- Picking-up: [missing of both as paragraphs lengthen]
[MIKE]
- (formidably)
- … had miniature nuclear engines of 500-tons thrust, running on water … but one of your predecessors canceled the follow-ons. It'd be a pity to waste this newer technology on Earth-star-wars before we learned to benefit from it.
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
PRESIDENT
- (challenges)
- Then, what is it you really want from America?!
SECRETARY
- (pleas to President)
- Sir, please: These are university trained college students, noble men and women like yourself; not militant extremists. They took risks to save their friends trapped below the U-FO.
PRESIDENT
- (erupts)
- But how did they know that?! And when did they know it?!
SECRETARY
- (pleads)
- But, sir: that's for Presidents,…
PRESIDENT
- But, rules apply to all persons!
SECRETARY
- (pleads)
- But, Presidents decide the need-to-know arbitrarily, sir-- civilians don't authorize …
PRESIDENT
- (adamant)
- But, the President is, a civilian:
- (to TV camera)
- Who just runs our country!
- (checks)
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[MIKE]
- (formidably)
- Sir, the high commands of technology are for those preeminently qualified: as Presidents once were, but have since become politicians-of-all-trades: commanders in the drug-war camps, equivocators, hand-shakers, military pendants,… plow-shirking curtain-irons:
- (energizes)
- The new-technology learning curve is too steep-- too non-linear, too, exponential; and talk is too cheap! We desire to maintain this formidable space-command to the benefit of all mankind: on Earth; in heaven-- as the U.S.A. once did its own liberty!
- EXT. FLAGSHIP COMMAND/INT. SOUND - (CO-CONTINUOUS)
- [EDIT-BLIPPING on vidlink]
- Starships come and go about.
- VIDEO PAUSED.
MIKE
- … those who wish to return to Earth: they came freely-- they were but undrafted students: Yet they return as victors of Earth's first spacewar. Those who wish to stay, may continue here: Earth needs them most out-here: out to Pluto and beyond-- to the Oort Clouds: even, to the nearest stars!
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- … plow-shirking curtain-irons:…
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (develops excitement)
- We need, to keep, our perspective on this: High-technology is one fine discipline for students-- some of my wealthiest constitutents are high-tech'ies-- but, America's, students, shall be well-rounded: Our systems of education, shall-not mass-produce, spacewarrior automaton indoctrinees in droves: We shall-not squander our nation's education ethic!
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- (emphasizes)
- Sir: We, are not, mass-hypnotizing graduates here: We are keeping the students' perceptions, alive: with the possibilities of acceptable achievements-- not merely lurid prospects of otiose enjoyments! I suggest leaving the space-orbit command under Presidential direction and communication-- but with autonomous response and controls.
- VIDEO FAST-CATCH-UP.
[MIKE:REMIND]
- … U.S.A. once did its own liberty!
- VIDEO RESUMES.
[PRESIDENT]
- (grins)
- I see you aliens and I, think a lot alike. Perhaps we can come to some agreement: when you return your impressed abductees; a Presidential pardon, for pirates perhaps.
- (checks)
- VIDEO PAUSES, for:
MIKE
- (wisely)
- Sir: A Congressional pardon is far better than the Presidential variety. Our fellow professors, Gwen, Peter, and Daniel are on-board by their freewill; they are also co-heroes! However, sir: The escaped spacewar Aliens may return: There are space-Aliens in the star lanes; and star lanes throughout the galaxy;… the students have work to do, up here, sir. We ourselves shall take our Flagship Golden, and starships Stark Easter and Star Quest, and return to the deep galaxy. The remainder of Earth-set fleet here is on their own.
- INT. FLAGSHIP COMMAND (CONTIGUOUS)
- Moon west is very slowly, nearly eclipsing Earth; Vidlink TV-images display the [USA Presidential Seal]: their remote interview has finished abruptly. Other vidlinks have [starship Regents CMDR Dave] as High Command-- they recommit Mike's surprising ultimatum:
JAIME
- (irked)
- Did we get to discuss this?!
GARY
- (put-off)
- What is this Congressional pardon? We haven't committed any crimes; We saved Earth!
MIKE
- (forces calm)
- Congress alone, has Constitutional authority forgiving Treasons.
GARY
- (reasons rapid)
- No treason, Mike! We didn't usurp the authority of the U.S. military! Gwen, Peter, and Daniel found the U-F-O first! We took-up chase to rescue them under hot-pursuit guidlines for abduction cases! And only after we secured it of military personnel! We launched with the undergrads still aboard, only when the U.S. Army fired-upon us-- upon them! And windstorms are classified as acts-of-God!
JEFF
- So are comet strikes-- if we didn't help direct them.
GARY
- (snips)
- The Aliens were in front of us.
JAIME
- (reemphasizes)
- Just listen, to this attitude-- we didn't cross-over: And we've operated quite outside national borders!
JOHN
- (inserts to Jaime)
- Outside national orbits, too.
JEFF
- (admits)
- Except for taking the U-F-O in the first place.
GARY
- Abandoned vehicle removal is not a national security objective.
MIKE
- (forces calm)
- Anyone may, return to Earth-- but just know: your return may not be such as you left it: Presidents take-over America, as much as any enemy would: except Presidents are usually on our, side.
JOHN
- Your plan when you left Star Quest at the ring city!?
MIKE
- They are covering our aether corridor other end-- I hope: both, in and out.
JAIME
- (summarizes)
- It looks like we're going out!
CADET
- What about the other captains and commanders? Are we giving-up on them?!
JOHN
- (resumes)
- Mike-- you're worried your attitude may reflect on their acceptance back into mainstream society: Don't, Mike: You've established a thought-pattern to be followed: And there's no giving up a mindset before any treaty.
GARY
- (quips)
- They don't formalize mindsets with ambassadors.
JEFF
- (extends)
- Only our presence will insure their safe return, on Earth; as surely as their safe return to space … Mike: You're a station, in outer-space!
CADET
- Things are really different out-here!
GARY
- (to Cadet)
- Just more metaphysical.
[DAVE]
- Mike, you're right: There'll be thousands of U.S. space-troops up here when this opens up; and we can't have two, commanders-in-chief.
CADET
- (tentative)
- Maybe they could recommission Mike-- we did!
GARY
- Protocols and ranks-- wouldn't work: It's tougher on the wrong side of political opinions: It was easier for America to revolt against England.
JEFF
- (quips)
- Just American faces on British drug lords, two centuries later!
GARY
- (quips)
- And a lead-ringer in a three-clown circus!
[DAVE]
- (somber)
- It does seem wise to keep the Flagship out of reach; let the fleet develop with equality of authority-- same reason America has never had its own king.
JEFF
- (agrees)
- And staying, will invite unreasonable competitions--
- (worries)
- But they are, going to call on us, some time: What then?!
CADET
- We'll have to keep in touch, wherever we go.
JEFF
- (French "fait accomplis")
- Fet-ah-come-plee! But, how far can we string our communications cord?
- (turns, keys)
JOHN
- Mike-- you wanted to return to the elevator: Looks like we'll have to stay ourselves, until we relinquish Golden to another Grand Admiral.
JEFF
- (at keys)
- Mike: We're getting a report from moonbase: Commander Carl of starship Sequest.
MIKE
- (orders)
- Put it on a screen!
- Jeff keys: [Starship Sequest CMDR CARL] TWINKLES-IN paused.
CADET
- How do we train another Grand Admiral, without the due process of challenge? We can't go challenging Aliens everywhere!
GARY
- (to Cadet)
- Perhaps that's what the Aliens were doing to us: training their High Command.
MIKE
- (order to [Dave])
- Dave: Collect a consensus on command infrastructure!
[DAVE]
- All right, Mike-- get back to you in a hectahesit.
- TWINKLE-OUT-- [Dave] replaced by internal operations:
MIKE
- (to [Carl])
- Carl-- what have you?
- VIDEO RESUMES CARL:
[CARL]
- (greets)
- Hello-- Grand-Admiral Michael: We've got a lunar news-update for you:
- (reads-out)
- The Alien comet flack destroyed one cavern-- and another lost its air supply, and power is out, but its structure seems sufficiently intact; we can probably get some starships out-- slowly. One more suffered minor damage of several wall structures rubblized. And overall, it appears we have 33-good caverns,-- and a thousand vessels: Have you got plans?! Oh, and Pickel equipment is fully reparable: We estimate a day or so. The crew is taking liberty to scout caverns!
- (smiles)
MIKE
- Thanks, Carl.
- (checks)
- TWINKLES-OUT [Carl replaced by Sequest logo]; [Swooped S-path to a distant bright star, inscribed 'Quest']
- They discuss their new prestige:
MIKE
- (smiles, resumes)
- O-kay! We do have a star-fleet to deploy: Do we deploy it before the President's men get here?
PENNY
- (steps forward)
- Sir-- if I may interpret: The President may be believing we have boarded pirates: Our Gwen, Peter, and Daniel did not take the U-F-O, nor shoot-down the Air-Force jets last week: That responsibility was of Alien-Gwen's team.
GARY
- Good point, Penny: That'd be an inferred treasonable association: They have information on three persons, not six.
JEFF
- (adds)
- And operating equipment that automatically, shoots-down jets: They'll have to prove in Court, that we knew, it was automatic:
- (grins)
- For a handsome lawyer's fee, we probably did not:
- (smirks)
- Anyone, could presume it's capable: presumption, being above the law!
PETER
- But that may jeopardize our staying aboard.
MIKE
- (cheery)
- Pete, you guys are always, welcome! And, you have the legal right to have your adversary, -and their witnesses,- appear before you in Court:- And that puts the burden on the United States, to produce the space-aliens, and Alien-Gwen et al. Meantime you're ordered confined to starship vicinity-- your selection: Pickel when it's repaired, if you like…. Of course, we'd be delighted to have you-three aboard Golden,- till your Courts Spatial--
- (postulates)
- Estimably, 20-thousand years away!
DANIEL
- (tentatively)
- And, at the speed-of-light, if we understand all this!?
- Continuing more conversationally, till [Dave] returns:
GARY
- (mock-officiates)
- I suppose, you are all wondering why, we called you, here:-- The question before this Congress, is: What do we do with ourselves out-here?- Ideas…!-
- (half a beat)
- Do we locate sources of antihelion mass-production,- for heating and nightlighting swimming pools…?!
JEFF
- (quips; grins)
- That'd be anti, mass-production….
GARY
- (caught)
- Ah-yuh!
CADET
- (exacts)
- For heavier,-water swimming pools….
GARY
- (caught tighter)
- Ahhh…yeah…!
PENNY
- (offers)
- We can develop a lunar residency at the moon-port; Also install science base colonies on Jupiter's moons.
JAIME
- (offers)
- We might build John's luna-metric antigravity rings.
JEFF
- (proffers)
- We can redirect asteroids onto the Martian poles and recover its ocean water and carbon dioxide atmosphere for a millennium greenhouse effect.
GARY
- (to Jeff)
- We should do something like that for Venus:- maybe seed its clouds.
JOHN
- (one-ups)
- We can dump antihelion in Jupiter's deuterium layer to make it warm and illuminate Europa … Open outworlder mud-spas …
- (revises for approval)
- Or detonate missiles in the Uranian and Neptunian atmospheres deuterium substrata to yield quantities of gas to their moons, and build traditional cold colonies.
CADET
- (proffers)
- We can explore the Solar system out to the Oort clouds: -Planet-X, may yet be found;- And search for near-solar-system rogue neutron stars … That'll keep us preeminently busy in Mission Earth Guard….
PETER
- Are we planning to publicize U-F-O technologies?
DANIEL
- We can create a multi-level-market of galactic vacation ventures, And sell U-F-O, T-shirt periphernalia.
- (wince-grins)
GWEN
- (to Daniel)
- We might do better conducting scientific expeditions.
DANIEL
- (shrugs)
- A million dollar M-L-M buys a baccalaureate, these days.
JAIME
- (a beat, confides)
- That-all doesn't seem like much.
JEFF
- Must be those off-campus champagne dinners, and Statistics Department cheese-and-wine fests,-- sooner or later mock our better efforts….
- [Dave] TWINKLES-IN, returned to his vidlink displays;
GARY
- We should outlaw cheese and wine in outer-space, And do what the makers of these starships had in mind, did have, a whole lot, in mind…!
MIKE
- (to [Dave])
- Dave, What have we from the ranks?
[DAVE]
- Pretty-much what we'd expect, Mike: The captains are willing to accede to U.S.A. control, But all want to stay-on: They're worried how, both, can be achieved.
MIKE
- (orders)
- Put me on fleetwide broadcast!
- Jeff keys.
MIKE
- (to all)
- Have we conscientious objectors?!
- (awaits … none)
[DAVE]
- None here, beyond the usual Earth-liberty requests, and applications for benign-duty missions.
- PA MULTI-CHIRPS.
JEFF
- You're fleetwide:-- Give the order!
MIKE (+PA)
- Attention, all star-fleet and space-fleet crews: This is Flagship Grand-Admiral, Michael. We have reviewed the directorial consensus and decided on the recusal of starship Golden. Any personnel on any vessel may re-station to Earth, full pardon recommended,- Or, be clandestinely set down near Area 51 Public Zone: I recall a few of you left your automobiles there.
JAIME
- (guffaws to John)
- Duhhh-- What is, auto-mo-bile?!
- (grins)
MIKE (+PA)
- Those remaining afleet shall train without the benefit of the singular Flagship command. Golden in retreat to the galaxy center, shall train several candidates for the rank and command of Grand-Admiral;-- I shall retire at an early opportunity….
JOHN
- (to Jaime)
- The first, absolute, vacation, achieved by science.
- (grins)
- Jeff busies himself keying-up an INCOMING-DATA-receipt …
MIKE (+PA)
- Earth fleets shall remain under Commander Dave: Your response to the incursion was exemplary, under his execution as acting Commander-IN-Chief! We are syllabus'ing an agenda of accomplishments. Flagship expects to return a yearly visit.
JEFF
- (low voice)
- We're accumulating a transmission relayed from U-campus,-- Mike: What do you want me to do with this?
MIKE
- (low to Jeff)
- Display On-hold.
- Jeff keys: A female [REPORTER at a TV-news-room desk] appears paused on TV-image displays, mid-sentence.
MIKE (+PA)
- I want you to keep good care of your planet Earth-- and barring an Alien fleet, invasion, you shall.
- (to [Dave])
- Commander Dave: They're your fleet! Flagship Grand Admiral Michael, out!
JEFF
- (keys)
- Replay: onscreen.
- CONCURRENT: TV: low conversation overlaps without vox-pausing it until the final loud exclamations:
[REPORTER]
- … as a reprieve now seems possible. Hundreds of students at the U in California, flooded the President's Office with e-mail messages regarding the course they were taking under one of the professors in the U-F-O drama; And now, it seems the lead professor had already been granted by the Defense Department's Nucleonics Clear-command Division, in Omaha, to conduct an investigation of evidences leading to the possible recovery of abductees and Aliens. The President's Office sees this as sufficient to warrant a retraction, and is preparing announcement of a modified renormalization package for the crews of the star fleet under the self-styled Grand Admiral. A student spokesperson is on vidlink with us….
- (awaits TV-ADJUSTMENT)
GARY
- (low voice)
- I thought they all, came with us!
- (grins about)
- Junior high school graduate female [STUDENT] Mi-Kee appears for interview by vidlink; Gary develops surprise, as her older brother: [REF: The StarTrails Game, the para-quel]
[REPORTER] (CONCURRENT)
- Michelle: what do you think affected the President's decision most: the amount of e-mail he received, or your ability to link classified documents? And, how did you do that?
GARY
- (hushed, blushes)
- I told her, to not, tell anyone!
[STUDENT] (CONCURRENT)
- It would have to be the authority, by which we conducted our information campaign: This cannot be dealt-with lightly, by officialdom.
JAIME
- (low voice back to Gary)
- That's your little sister-- junior high-- isn't she?!
GARY
- (nods yes)
- She wanted to know why I was packing.
[STUDENT] (CONCURRENT)
- All document pages were sent in X-M-L or Flash. We log-on'ed the E-1 connection at my brother's Supernet sub-node on the U-campus, and used a combination of metasearch mirrors to pull-down dot-gov forms and documents; we sorted clues on Crypt-Lock's A-I-Master-- it's mostly administrative gibberish. From these we generated status-quiry lists, and forwarded the appropriate department secretaries: thereby retrieving a respectable profile on the team.
JEFF
- How'd she make it look realistic.
GARY
- She uses official remailers-- she's an anonymity nut; practicing member of A-A; user-handle, Anonymo…. She started, Equal Rights Anonymous.
JAIME
- (low agast)
- Your, little Mi-Kee!? She's a bit young for that!- I had no idea;- I thought Anonymo was egregious!
JOHN
- (to Jaime)
- Of course not: She's anonymous!
- (grins)
[STUDENT] (CONCURRENT)
- We got e-mailing addresses from the online student handbook; correlated names with the college class-lists; and e-mailed them for permission to mention-- we desiderated that those aboard the U-F-O were automatically permission granted…. Reconstruction of a mission prospectus on the team was manual labor,- but conferencing helps. And this we mass-e-mailed to find routes to the President:-- as you may know the President's In-box is filtered and anything on U-F-O's goes to c-g-i-bin-13…. Nothing is really classifiably secret on the Supernet, when you know how to think like an administration--
- (grins)
- And tie-up Mae-West or Mae-East for a kilohesit. We could have finished faster if we hadn't pinged spammers hacking the campus stealth server, and re-D-N-S'ed their I-S-P's by temporarily surrogate-share hosting a virtual net of a hundred stealth-servers and overloading their hub….
GARY
- (feels surpassed)
- Anonymics Anonymous…. She preaches absolute Constitutionality; insists 3-5ths of a vote belongs to Aliens on visa; mass-e-mailed the Attorney General when the F-E-C clamped-down on a resident German donator;- got her I-S-P real suspicious about all that traffic…. Her slogan is, Don't e-mail me if you're not nobody. She even threatened to get-even with nobody, when she couldn't register no-where-dot-com. Kids think that's funny.
[STUDENT]
- (grins)
- That was funny: We created a subnet for them and retro-piped their live spam-traffic!
- TV-PAUSE.
JEFF
- (keying: abrupt loud)
- Mike! We're getting a distress signal from Star Quest!
MIKE
- (orders)
- Respond, Quest-set! Go to Red, Alert…!
- REVERBERATING
- SPLICE-DISSOLVE TO:
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