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.
KLINGON PRIME Very well. Show me your papers.
JOHN Right away.
As John walks over to a COMPUTER PANEL, Klingon Prime moves up to Brikane. It appears to amuse him to see Brikane wearing a uniform of the Universal Trading Company, working for a human.
Speaking to his men:
7 KLINGON PRIME Looks like they dressed this one as a clown.
His two aides start to laugh, enjoying Brikane's humiliation.
Brikane looks away, trying to avoid a direct confrontation with the Klingons.
Just as Klingon Prime is about to comment on Brikane’s attempt to ignore them and their insults, John walks back and hands him a PADD.
As Klingon Prime starts reading it, John quickly exchanges a look with Brikane. A look that reads: “Let’s hope this plan is going to stick.”
Suddenly Klingon Prime drops the padd to the floor and draws his phaser. His two aides blindly follow his lead.
JOHN (playing dumb) Something wrong?
Brikane heaves a deep sigh and raises his hands to signal his surrender. John on the other hand does not.
KLINGON PRIME Our custom seals are updated regularly to prevent fraud. Yours is three months old.
JOHN Look, you and I both know Klingons are great warriors but they suck at keeping their administration straight. There must have been some kind of mix-up here.
As John tries to approach Klingon Prime:
KLINGON PRIME One step closer and I'll turn you into a scorch mark on your cargo bay’s floor.
JOHN (confident) I should warn you: I don't respond well to threats.
Klingon Prime places his finger on the trigger.
As Brikane -hands still raised high above his shoulders- leans in to try to get John’s attention:
8 BRIKANE Boss, from where I’m standing, it looks like it’s our Klingon friends who are holding the phasers. Not us.
Seeing John isn’t willing to listen to his advice, Brikane focuses back on the Klingons in an attempt to calm them down:
BRIKANE (CONT’D) Look, let’s not do anything we’re going to regret later on. Like my captain told you, there must have been a mistake. We’re an honest crew from a respectable company.
Brikane’s short intervention is just enough to distract Klingon Prime for John to jump into action:
ACTION SHOTS: John jumps towards Klingon Prime, grabbing him by the arm holding the phaser and forcefully starts twisting it until he drops the phaser to the ground.
John quickly picks up the phaser and fires it directly at Klingon Aide One, immediately vaporizing him into thin air.
Taking advantage of the sudden confusion, John grabs Klingon Prime by the shoulder and swings him around, forcing him to act as a living shield against Klingon Aide Two.
Meanwhile Brikane, dumbfounded by John’s attack on the Klingons, still stands on the exact same spot he was just a minute ago with his arms still raised high.
JOHN (at Aide Two) Drop that phaser.
Klingon Prime is almost choking by John’s tight grip around his neck, but still tries to resist:
KLINGON PRIME (rough choking voice) Don't listen to him you fool. Just shoot him.
Brikane, arms still raised:
BRIKANE (at Aide Two) May I suggest you don't.
9 Klingon Aide Two quickly exchanges glances with both Brikane and John. For a brief moment he seems to hesitate between firing and standing down. But as he notices the eyes of Klingon Prime -his superior officer- practically ordering him to take action, he finally decides to do as ordered and tries to aim his phaser at John.
John, having the advantage of a clear shot, fires first before Aide Two has the opportunity to take a clear shot at him. And just like Aide One, Aide Two disintegrates into a billion molecules.
Tired of holding Klingon Prime under control, John pushes him forward onto the transporter platform. As he quickly pushes the communication key on the control panel next to him:
JOHN Cargo Bay to Pit.
NATALIE (O.S.) (over comm) Pit here.
JOHN Be ready to fire our phaser banks at the Klingons on my command.
NATALIE (O.S.) (over comm) Firing at the Klingons? John what the hell happened down there?
JOHN I'm giving you an order, Natalie!
As Klingon Prime tries to get back up on his feet, John activates the transporter.
KLINGON PRIME (shouting) I'll hunt you down petaQ! This is not over!
His final words still echoing through the cargo bay, John pushes the comm key again:
JOHN Pit: fire those phasers. Now!
On his order we jump to:
10 EXT. SPACE
The PHASER INSTALLATION mounted on the hull of the Blue Star's turns round and takes aim at the Klingon Bird-Of-Prey hovering above her.
As she fires directly at their engines, the Bird-Of-Prey is turned powerless with THREE BIG EXPLOSIONS.
INT. BLUE STAR - THE CARGO BAY
Same as before.
Now that the Klingon situation is resolved, John looks confused as he suddenly notices Brikane standing next to him. Somehow it seems like he had forgotten the Cardassian was with him the entire time.
Unwilling to have a conversation about what just happened, John turns round and strolls out of the cargo bay.
On Brikane's worried eyes:
EXT. GOLIATH ORBIT
Two KALARI WARSHIPS slowly head up to KENDRICK'S PALACE, like vultures approaching their prey.
INT. KENDRICK'S PALACE - BILL'S OFFICE
Where we find BILL Kendrick keeping himself busy with the dozens of padds laying across his old oak desk. It’s just another day at the office.
Suddenly the doors to his office slide open, revealing WREN -almost out of breath and looking quite disturbed. As Bill notices:
BILL (worried) What's wrong, Wren?
As he walks over to Bill’s desk:
WREN The Kalari.
BILL (surprised) The Kalari? What about them?
11 WREN They're here and demand to speak with you.
Bill gets out of his chair and starts strolling back and forth behind his desk:
BILL Did they tell you why?
WREN No. But I don't trust this Bill. My ears are itching and that's never a good sign.
As he halts and looks Wren in the eye:
BILL (half smiling) And who am I to argue with those big lobes of yours?
WREN Maybe I could tell them that you are on a business trip. Ask them to come back another time.
Waving his hands, dismissing Wren’s proposal.
BILL No. No we can’t. If the Kalari bothered to come all the way out here to talk to us, it means they mean business. Sending them back home with some poor excuse could only antagonize them. And we all know what they’re capable of.
Wren nods, probably remembering the tragic events in Butterfly City.
As he sits down again:
BILL (CONT’D) No. The only option we have right now is to see this thing through. I want you to make the necessary arrangements for a meeting in the Star Gallery.
Wren, almost reluctantly, nods his head.
EXT. GOLIATH ORBIT - KENDRICK'S PALACE
SHOT ON: one of the Kalari vessels, docked at Kendrick's Palace.
12 INT. KENDRICK'S PALACE - STAR GALLERY
The Star Gallery, the place where the residents of the Palace come to enjoy the endless beauty of the universe.
Right now however, it is the location for what seems to be a stand-off between Bill, Wren and REVER on one side and General Ka Adillo joined by his first officer Je Navral and one GUARD on the other side – all three of them wearing a MOUTHPIECE to make breathing more easy in this oxygen rich atmosphere.
As Bill steps up, ready to make formal introduction:
BILL This is the first time the United Trading Company has had the privilege to meet with a delegation of the Holy Kalari Empire. We are honored by your visit to our Corporate Headquarters, General.
The general steps up. His breathing sounds even heavier coming through the mouthpiece.
KA ADILLO We did not come here to engage in diplomatic niceties. One of your merchant vessels has something that belongs to me.
Bill looks down at his feet, realizing Ka Adillo is probably talking about the Blue Star. As he looks back up at the general:
BILL (playing dumb) Really?
Turning to Wren:
BILL (CONT’D) Have any of our vessels reported contact with Kalari ships?
Playing along:
WREN No Bill. Not that I'm aware of.
Turning back to Ka Adillo:
13 BILL This probably must be some sort of kind misunderstanding. We don't have any trade relations with the Kalari.
Without giving anyone any chance to intervene, Ka Adillo swiftly takes a couple of steps forward and snaps Bill by the throat, lifting him up two feet in the air.
Rever -realizing he has to act now before it’s too late- starts to run for Bill and Ka Adillo. But because he is focusing on Bill’s precarious situation, he loses sight of Je Navral who draws his WEAPON-
WREN (shouting) Rever, look out!
But Wren's warning comes too late. A barrage of phaser bolts throw Rever up in the air. As he lands down onto the floor, we can see a maze of shot wounds in his chest. Rever is DEAD!
The twinkle in Ka Adillo’s eyes betray his amusement at the death of Rever. Focusing back at his prime target: Bill.
KA ADILLO Now that you know we mean business: where is the Blue Star?
Bill's face is turning blue. He is unable to breathe, let alone speak.
Wren, realizing he’s facing a live and death situation, blurts it all out:
WREN They’re not here. We don’t know where they are.
Slowly lowering Bill:
KA ADILLO Then you will summon them here to us.
BILL (scratchy voice) No, you ugly bastard. We won't do it.
Ka Adillo -annoyed by Bill’s continued stubbornness- reaches with his right hand for his knife. As the blade slides out of its holder:
14 KA ADILLO I can see you are not willing to co-operate with us. Like all humans, you believe you can dictate your will onto the rest of the galaxy. But I will pierce through that arrogance-
He slowly pierces the knife through Bill's chin -up into his skull, seemingly savoring every moment of it.
KA ADILLO (CONT’D) Like this blade through your flesh.
Wren turns his eyes away from the spectacle, horrified by the slow and painful dead of his oldest friend and boss.
Suddenly we hear Bill's body dropping to the floor. As Ka Adillo wipes clean his knife and turns to Wren:
KA ADILLO (CONT'D) For your sake Ferengi, I hope you will be more accommodating than your former boss. If you are not: then I will have my men kill every living soul on this station. Their bodies will hang as trophies on the bow of my ship as I set course for the home world.
As he approaches Wren:
KA ADILLO (CONT’D) Do we have an understanding?
On Wren's terrified look we:
FADE OUT TO BLACK
15
a STAR TREK story
CONTINUES WITH:
EPISODE 404 The Chemist
TREKISODES © 2019