a STAR TREK story Star Trek and all related names are registered trademarks of CBS and Paramount Pictures. This work of original fiction is written solely for non-profit purposes. EPISODE 403 THE COLDNESS OF SPACE Story by: Jon Van Pelt Written by: Jon Van Pelt Edited by: Bart Vandezande Episode 403 – The Coldness Of Space Main Characters: John Kendrick ..................................................................... Aaron Jakubenko Moa Andersson .................................................................. Ruby Rose Tolena................................................................................. Zoey Deutch Brikane ............................................................................... Adam Godley Natalie Kendrick ................................................................. Vanessa Kirby Guest Characters: Ka Adillo ............................................................................. Idris Elba Je Navral ............................................................................ Clifton Collins Jr. Klingon Prime ..................................................................... Jason Brooks Bill ....................................................................................... Michael Harney Wren ................................................................................... John Galecki Rever .................................................................................. Dave Bautista Alien Races: Bolian Cardassian Klingon Kalari INT. ALIEN SHUTTLE BAY SHOT ON: a grey metallic hatch door as a hand in a leather glove comes into view. The hand has long and sharp fingers- definitely not belonging to a human. As the hand slowly opens up the door, revealing: The frozen bodies of XARINA and MERCA (last seen in episode 306 Showdown At The Electric Nebula). As we pull back from the open hatch and reverse angle, we see that: SHOT ON: the hand in the leather glove belongs to none other than general KA ADILLO (last seen in episode 205 Green Seeds Of Vengeance). Around him stand four heavily armed KALARI SOLDIERS and his young First Officer, Colonel JE NAVRAL. All of them are staring at the two frozen Orion corpses in the retrieved escape pod. Ka Adillo lets his left hand glide over the POD'S ID, as we discover the words together: POD 1 - HAWK - U.T.C. He leans into the pod, trying to get a closer look at Xarina. His fingers touch her frozen blue-green skin. Although it’s difficult to read the facial expression of a reptilian race like the Kalari, it appears he has great difficulty reigning in his anger. As he turns back to his men: KA ADILLO How unfortunate she had to die out there, in the coldness of space. I would have loved to put my hands around her little neck and squeeze the last breath out of her lungs. His men don’t react. No doubt realizing any reaction would not be taken kindly by their general. Colonel Je Navral appears to be checking data on his padd. As he looks up at Ka Adillo while ignoring the dead bodies in the escape pod: JE NAVRAL The pod belongs to a ship called Hawk, registered with the Universal Trading Company. Ka Adillo's face straightens upon hearing the name ‘Universal Trading Company’. JE NAVRAL (CONT'D) Their headquarters are located in the Gath system. Ka Adillo locks eyes with his first officer: KA ADILLO Send out a message to our squadron: we will rendezvous at the Gath system. JE NAVRAL I will send out the order immediately, Sir. As the general strides out of the shuttle bay, followed by Je Navral: EXT. SPACE Where we hoover in the warp trail of the BLUE STAR. INT. BLUE STAR - THE GALLEY JOHN, MOA and BRIKANE are gathered around a PORTABLE SCREEN resting on the table. SHOT ON: JOHN'S FINGER as he moves it across a star chart. In the upper right corner we read "CARDASSIAN UNION". JOHN At the end of the war, the Union was carved up in 3 sectors controlled by the Federation, the Klingon and Romulan Empire with the Cardassian system as a neutral sector. As we pull back up from the star chart: MOA Looks a bit too crowded for my liking. BRIKANE The Cardassian economy lies in shambles. My people are in desperate need for food and medicines. We're a merchant vessel. We shouldn't have too much trouble reaching Cardassia in one piece. MOA (witty) With an empty cargo bay? Any ship trying to check our papers will be on to us after doing one quick sensor sweep of our little boat. 2 JOHN That’s why I suggest we enter Cardassian space through the Klingon controlled sectors. They're not as thorough as Starfleet but not as suspicious as the Romulans. If we're lucky we'll reach Cardassia without too many delays. Looking at Moa and Brikane: JOHN (CONT'D) Everybody OK with this? Brikane looks at Moa and nods. Moa still doesn’t look too convinced but finally resigns and nods as well. JOHN (CONT'D) Then it’s settled. I'll order Natalie to change course. On this we jump to: EXT. SPACE Where the Blue Star, still at warp speed, slowly alters course. INT. BLUE STAR - JOHN'S CABIN John sits at his desk behind his computer. The doorbell CHIMES. Still looking at his computer screen, he gets up and slams the door key. As he sits back down, the door slides open. TOLENA enters his cabin, wearing a nightgown that leaves little or nothing to the imagination. TOLENA Still hard at work, are we? Without looking up: JOHN A starship captain never rests. TOLENA Well, they should at least take some time to relax once and awhile. 3 John is still focused on the data and schematics on his computer screen. Tolena swiftly steps behind him and gently places her hands on his shoulders. As she starts giving him a neck massage: JOHN (relaxing) Hmmm. That feels good. Just what I needed. As she lowers her head, reaching in for kiss on his left ear: JOHN (surprised) Well now, that's not part of a standard neck massage. She smiles as she moves her hands down to his shoulders: TOLENA You deserved a little something extra. JOHN (playful) 'Cause I'm the captain? It’s only now that he looks up at her. His eyes widen both in excitement as well as surprise to see her in her nightgown and not in uniform. As he places his hands on her, stopping the massage: JOHN (CONT'D) (hesitating) This probably isn't a such good idea, Tolena. TOLENA We're not on one of your Starfleet ships, remember? We play rather loose with regulations on this boat. She leans in and gently places her blue lips on his. He doesn't resist. As she slowly tilts her head back up: TOLENA (CONT'D) See: nothing bad happened. The ship is still flying. Just as John smiles: The ship's ALARM CLAXON goes off. 4 NATALIE's VOICE echoes over the comm system: NATALIE (O.S.) (over comm) We've got company, people. John jumps out of his chair. As he takes Tolena’s hands in his: JOHN We’ll talk later. I promise. As John hits the door key and exits the cabin: TOLENA (disappointed) Right. Of course. Shaking her head slightly, trying to refocus all of her energy back on her job as ship’s engineer, she too exits the cabin. EXT. SPACE The Blue Star still flying a warp speed. INT. BLUE STAR - THE PIT Where we find Moa at the Helm and Natalie at OPS. Natalie looks over her shoulder and sees John, as if touched by a strike of lightning, jumping down the ladder. JOHN (worried) What's going on? NATALIE We've got Klingons running hot on our tail. They're ordering us to drop out of warp. JOHN (clearly disappointed) Dammit. MOA We could try ignoring them. Fake a problem with our communication array. 5 JOHN That'll only make us a target for their shooting practice. No. Let's follow their orders and drop out of warp and pray to God it’s hopefully just a routine inspection. MOA Aye captain. Buckle up then. We’re going to drop out of warp in five-four-three- As the ship starts to rumble: EXT. SPACE The Blue Star drops out of warp, soon after followed by a de-cloaking Klingon BIRD-OF-PREY. INT. BLUE STAR - THE CARGO BAY Where Brikane stands at the transporter platform, hands folded firmly behind his back. He looks over his shoulder as he hears the doors to the cargo bay opening up, revealing John. Looking back at the transporter platform: BRIKANE I was starting to think you guys were going to let me face those ugly turtle heads on my own down here. JOHN (smiling) And miss out on all the fun? Just as John gives Brikane a friendly slap on the back, the transporter starts to fill the cargo bay with the BLUE LIGHT of a transport beam, materializing THREE ARMED KLINGONS onto the platform -phasers at the ready. As the beam-in is completed: JOHN (challenging) I was under the assumption this was an inspection, not a raid. There is no need in pointing those phasers at us. We're a peaceful bunch. 6 The head of the Klingon inspection team -referred to as KLINGON PRIME- steps down the platform, followed by his two AIDES -referred to as AIDE ONE and TWO. KLINGON PRIME Consider it a precaution. As he looks around the cargo bay as if scanning the area: KLINGON PRIME (CONT'D) Space these days is filled with pirates, mercenaries and criminals all looking for their little piece of Cardassia. Seeing there is no danger here, he puts away his phaser in the holster hanging from his belt. He nods at his two aides, signaling them to do the same. As they do: KLINGON PRIME (CONT'D) (at John) Are you the ship's captain? JOHN That would be me, yes. I'm captain John Kendrick and this ship is the Blue Star, flying under the flag of the Universal Trading Company. KLINGON PRIME That name is unfamiliar to me. JOHN Probably because it's our first trading mission to Cardassia Prime.